The American Society of Magical Negroes Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.0

The American Society of Magical Negroes Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Justin Dekker May 24, 2024

Written and directed by Kobi Libii, 'The American Society of Magical Negros' arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Universal. Starring Justice Smith, David Allen Grier, and An-Li Bogan, the satirical film tells the tale of a group of magical Black people tasked with making white people's lives easier for the betterment of everyone. Outfitted with a very solid video transfer and good audio track, the disc features a few light behind-the-scenes featurettes as well as a feature-length commentary track from Libii. A slipcover and Digital Code are included.

Aren (Justice Smith, Pokémon: Detective Pikachu), a soft-spoken, overly apologetic, and unassuming young man is seriously struggling on what should be one of the best nights of his life. At a local gallery, while all around him the works of other artists are quickly being snapped up, absolutely no one is interested in his admittedly slapdash-looking yarn sculpture. After a collector that he approaches mistakes him for a waiter, the gallery owner confronts Aren and informs him she'll be canceling the upcoming show dedicated solely to his work. On his way home from the gallery, while attempting to assist an intoxicated woman who is unable to use an ATM, her two friends quickly assume he's robbing her, and only the timely intervention from Roger (David Allen Grier) prevents the misunderstanding from turning ugly.

The term "Magical Negro" in the work's title refers to a film trope where a Black character exists purely to aid a white hero on his/her journey, possessing some skill, ability, or knowledge that the white character needs. The film points out examples of these from modern cinema, some of which it lampoons like The Green Mile and The Legend of Bagger Vance, while others, like Driving Miss Daisy, which it merely quickly references. The film suggests that this concept of the "Magical Negro" does not simply exist in the province of storytelling, but that an actual secret society of such individuals exists in our reality, solving white people's problems to make the world a safer and better place. For the biggest danger in the world, the film states, is white people who are "uncomfortable". It is into this organization that David Allen Grier's Roger recruits Smith's Aren after he narrowly averted an altercation on the street. After some very brief training, he's given his first solo assignment, Jason, a young man working for a social media company, whose danger meter has gone far too high. It seems only the Society can help him achieve his workplace goals and win the affection of his co-worker Lizzie (An-Li Bogan).

Libii's The American Society of Magical Negros seems to have three distinct goals. First, it strives to create the titular secret society whose members can actually perform magical feats such as causing needed objects to materialize out of thin air and effortless and error-free teleportation. Second, it wants to be a modern romantic comedy embracing all of the heartfelt awkward moments and adorable nervousness that it can. And lastly, there is a clear desire to arrive at a point where Aren can deliver his own version of America Ferrera's rousing, powerful, and poignant monologue from 2023's Barbie. All of this is well and good, but the time needed to build a magical world and construct a relationship from the ground up necessarily put these two plotlines at odds with each other. And unfortunately, for a movie set in a previously unknown magical world, it's the magic that suffers most.

When Roger brings Aren to the Society's headquarters through a secret door in a nondescript barber shop the viewer is treated to a rich, elegant, and uncanny location. Wood paneling creates a sense of warmth and agelessness, walls are lined with countless faces of prominent members who have come before whose unique photographs each promise intriguing stories from anonymous heroes, and the various objects and tools around the classroom indicate that members have innumerable magical abilities to handle anything from the mundane, like writing on a chalkboard, to the fantastical, such as using candles or lanterns to bring moments from the past to life, not to mention the ability to teleport one's self and a guest anywhere at will. Disappointingly, there isn't enough time to engage in the expected training activities needed to give Aren and the audience a proper grounding in the world to truly understand what is possible. Considering that Aren is a "normal" person brought into a fantastical world, it's a critical deficiency. The audience is never provided an understanding of how people are selected. Since they don't seem to have any innate "magical" aptitude one wonders if the magic used is somehow trained or if there is an object they carry that is the source of the power but that is never addressed. When he emerges with his powers to embark on his first assignment, he is fully formed; he's able to perform at a high level, even if he is sometimes unwilling to put his client's needs over his own. As the becoming is almost always more interesting than the being, it's another issue that diminishes the audience's ability to discover the secrets of this magical world and limits opportunities for Aren's character to develop.

As a first assignment, Jason is as frustrating as the Society itself. The most significant issue making him "uncomfortable" is the fact that his previous work project, creating a facial recognition component for a social media platform that failed to recognize people of color, was a disaster. It's keeping him from obtaining the accolades and career advancement that he wants, and justifiably so. It's never established if he is talented enough to achieve these goals on his own or if he is deserving of them. Considering the almost exclusively white workplace where Jason spends his days one wonders how exactly this self-obsessed milquetoast office worker's case became important to the Society. There's never really an "or else" beyond the nebulous notion that "uncomfortable" white people are a threat as he very clearly never interacts with people who don't look exactly like him. Further, he is desirous of the romantic attentions of Lizzie, a woman with whom he works yet in whom he never adequately or legitimately demonstrates any interest. As the film progresses, his actions make it clear that he shouldn't be in a relationship with anyone. As such little time is spent addressing these fundamental issues of world-building the entire construct of the Society seems contrived. It seems to merely exist to allow Libii an offbeat way of examining and confronting subtle and pervasive acts of racism perpetrated by the well-intentioned, but it isn't fully formed. The film would have more time to better depict and examine these behaviors more directly and effectively if it wasn't devoting precious minutes to an underdeveloped and unnecessary Society.

The film is at its most successful when it deals with Lizzie and Aren's budding relationship. From its first clumsy moments replete with misinterpreted actions and stammering dialogue a connection between the two is instantly noticeable. While Lizzie is the more confident of the two, she plays a more reserved role in the relationship, allowing Aren to make arrangements for outings, waiting for him to offer to spend time with her when she's obviously distressed, and exercising the patience of a saint late in the film when he leaves her in the lurch. Their affection for each other grows organically, with time given to several scenes that allow the characters to not only exchange meaningful looks but to physically demonstrate a greater closeness and affinity. In the end, it's very clearly Lizzie and not the Society that provides him with the courage he needs at the film's climax. Ultimately, had the film jettisoned the magical elements and focused on the transformative relationship between Lizzie and Aren as he navigates a complex and subtly hostile world it may have reached greater heights.

The American Society of Magical Negroes Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The American Society of Magical Negros looks very good on Blu-ray. Detail levels are typically very high and is best witnessed and enjoyed in the film's fabric textures, starting with Aren's disheveled and non-commercially appealing yarn sculpture. Every individual strand and element of frizz is visible and tactilely present when he untangles and adjusts it during the gallery show as he endeavors to make it more appealing. Sequins sparkle and twinkle with precision and Lizzie's pleather pants possess a high gloss and thickness. In the film's final act, Aren's handmade sweater provides an opportunity to inspect every loose thread and missed stitch in its less-than-precise construction as it seems to progressively unravel throughout the day. David Allen Grier's face displays worry lines and wrinkles commensurate with his age and role in the film, while every hair of his greying beard can virtually be traced back to its roots. Within the headquarters of the Society, wood tones are warm and luxurious, while primaries pop in the wardrobe elements of those in attendance at its meetings and in neon signs in the outside world. Black levels are deep and absorbing and rarely blot out detail unless clearly intended to do so. Skin tones are universally healthy. It's a lovely transfer.

The American Society of Magical Negroes Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The American Society of Magical Negros has received an impressive and expressive English DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 track. Dialogue is crisp, clear, and typically centrally located. Directionality is excellent, particularly during the film's more "magical" moments. Bass is sufficient to add the needed depth to music and sound effects. Immersive moments are occasionally impressive and robust when present, though the typically mundane settings of coffee shops, office workspaces, and parks leave little room to fully display the capabilities of the track beyond adding ambiance and slight sonic depth.

The American Society of Magical Negroes Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The on-disc supplemental features for The American Society of Magical Negros include:

• Secret Society Members (5.20) - Kobi Libii (Writer/Director/Producer), Justice Smith (Aren), and others discuss the project their characters in the film.

• Crafting a Magical Society (4.14) - Various cast and crew members discuss cinematography, wardrobe choices, set design, and locations.

• Speaking Your Truth (4.14) - Kobi Libii (Writer/Director/Producer) and members of the cast discuss their own experiences and the film's message.

• Feature Commentary with Writer/Director/Producer Kobi Libii - Libii discusses casting choices, cinematography, and myriad other topics during this casual and informative track.

The American Society of Magical Negroes Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The American Society of Magical Negros recouped just approximately $2.5MM against a budget of an estimated $15 million during its theatrical run. The film was pulled from theaters after a mere three weeks. Clearly, the film never found its audience and the studio was unwilling to allow it any more time to do so. Perhaps it will find its audience on Blu-ray. A tonally frustrating film that is not without its moments, it may have been more successful had it fully committed to either the magical angle that drives the film's title, or to the lo-fi romantic comedy that serves as the film's heart. The dual focus does both a disservice. David Allen Grier, Justice Smith, and relative newcomer An-Li Bogan all turn in fine performances, and Aren's monologue packs an impressive emotional and psychological punch, driving home the film's underlying message succinctly and powerfully. The curious are advised to wait for a sale before seeking admission.