Review of The Brass Teapot (2012) by Ariel R — 20 Jun 2014

Fractured fairy tale about a struggling young couple who chance upon a magical brass teapot that fills itself with money whenever one of them suffers pain. They further discover that the teapot pays out for emotional pain, and later for the pain of others.

Meanwhile, a Chinese man appears on their doorstep claiming to be a sworn emissary intending to rid the world of this destructive device, warning how it has ruined the lives of every previous owner. Despite the weighty implications, the movie never gets overly serious, the right balance is struck between drama and comedy while a few shrewd twists keep the premise from going stale.

Enjoyable if slight with engaging performances from leads Michael Angarano and Juno Temple, who occupies a very authentic American accent.