X
In Theaters Now
- 2024
- PG-13
- Focus Features
- 1 h 44 m
- 2024
- PG-13
- Focus Features
- 1 h 44 m
In Theaters Now
- 2024
- PG-13
- Focus Features
- 1 h 44 m
- 2024
- PG-13
- Focus Features
- 1 h 44 m
The American Society of Magical Negroes
50
0.7
Where to Watch
Where to Watch
Top Cast
Metascore
Mixed or Average
Based on 22 Critic Reviews
50
23% Positive
5 Reviews
5 Reviews
68% Mixed
15 Reviews
15 Reviews
9% Negative
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
Metascore
Mixed or Average
Based on 22 Critic Reviews
50
23% Positive
5 Reviews
5 Reviews
68% Mixed
15 Reviews
15 Reviews
9% Negative
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
Beneath the layers of magical realism and dot-com satire, American Society feels personal and raw, capturing the real depth and range of emotions that a person of color is made to feel, living in a country where racism remains ever-present, especially now.
Even with its faults, though, “Magical Negroes” is sure to spark meaningful and needed conversations around race among the audiences reflected in the film. At the very least, Libii shows that he is witty and adept enough as a director to continue working in his craft.
User Score
Overwhelming Dislike
Based on 81 User Ratings
0.7
4% Positive
3 Ratings
3 Ratings
4% Mixed
3 Ratings
3 Ratings
93% Negative
75 Ratings
75 Ratings
User Score
Overwhelming Dislike
Based on 81 User Ratings
0.7
4% Positive
3 Ratings
3 Ratings
4% Mixed
3 Ratings
3 Ratings
93% Negative
75 Ratings
75 Ratings
Justice Smith plays an artist who's introduced to the titular organization, which is secret group of Black people who are assigned a troubled white person to help them deal with their issues, thus making life safer for Blacks. The film's theme starts promisingly, but pretty rapidly ends up a hybrid of office politics and frustrated romance. The "magical" part almost fades away as the tedious dialogue takes over. Any promise for comedy never appears. Smith and the rest of the cast is fine but even the effortlessly-funny Nicole Byer is constrained. While the concept held plenty of satirical promise, the outcome was disappointing. FYI, Spike Lee actually coined the phrase "magical negro."
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The American Society of Magical Negroes" is a thoroughly racist film that relies on blatantly offensive caricatures and stereotypes to demean and marginalize white people. Under the thin guise of satire, the movie trades in demeaning tropes that portray white people as one-dimensional racist stereotypes.
The acting is amateurish at best, but that's one of the lesser problems in a movie that brims with racist portrayals. White characters are portrayed as ignorant, bigoted buffoons who lack nuance and humanity. Instead of thoughtful social commentary, an "us versus them" mentality is promoted that only reinforces the racial divide.
While the film purports to satirize racism, it instead revels in casual racism directed at a specific group. Replacing one set of stereotypes with another is not subversive - it only perpetuates the cycle of prejudice that the movie purports to condemn.
There is no excuse for such lazy, unoriginal displays of racism in this day and age, no matter what the subject matter. "The American Society of Magical Negroes" is extremely tone-deaf and will likely leave all viewers who aren't fervent racists(Woke, Twitter, Justice Warriors) feeling uncomfortable with its mean-spirited prejudice.
Movies have the power to bring people together or drive them further apart - this movie, unfortunately, prefers to mock and insult rather than uplift.
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[An] unevenly written but good-looking directorial debut that gradually runs out of steam.
The challenge of a film like The American Society of Magical Negroes is that the joke rarely goes beyond the single line premise for the movie, missing the opportunity to offer a biting analysis.
A socially conscious romantic comedy, and if those two modes don’t sound compatible, [writer/director] Libii does nothing to alter that impression.
Whatever the intent, the execution isn’t all the way there, and that’s the biggest disappointment of all.
There are versions of this premise relevant to a modern world, but the film’s point of view on the state of race relations feels stuck somewhere around 1954.
It's so disrespectful when the director who also wrote this is mixed black and white and was raised by his a single mother who is white and this is how you show respect also he's married to a white women (wha) same thing with the lead actor Justice smith who is mixed black/white who his white mother brought him into this world and this is the chose to be in both of them are disrespectful sons.
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What a slog of a film. I use the word film loosely. The movie was boring and very painful to get through
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The American Society of Magical Negroes (TASOMN) is a film that fails to deliver on all fronts. One of the primary issues with TASOMN is its lackluster storyline. The plot is riddled with clichés and predictable twists, making it difficult for viewers to stay engaged. The film attempts to tackle 'sensitive' themes but it does so in a superficial and often clumsy manner. The lack of depth in exploring these themes leaves much to be desired and results in a film that feels more like a missed opportunity than a meaningful commentary. The performances in the film are another area where it falls short. While the cast may have had potential and if they did their talents are not utilized effectively. The characters are one-dimensional and lack the complexity needed to make them relatable or memorable. This is particularly disappointing given the film's attempt to address significant social issues. The lackluster performances fail to evoke any response making it challenging to connect with the characters or their struggles. Furthermore, the film's pacing is inconsistent, with some scenes dragging on unnecessarily while others feel rushed. This uneven pacing disrupts the flow of the narrative and further detracts from the viewing experience. The dialogue often feels forced and unnatural, which, combined with the subpar performances, makes the interactions between characters unconvincing. In terms of technical aspects, TASOMN does not fare much better. The cinematography is uninspired. The film's score is forgettable, failing to enhance the mood or add any emotional depth to the scenes. TASOMN is a film that fails to deliver anything of value. Its attempt to address 'social issues' is undermined by a weak storyline, poor performances, and lackluster execution.
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Production Company
Offscreen,
Sight Unseen Pictures
Release Date Mar 15, 2024
Duration 1 h 44 m
Rating PG-13
Tagline Comfort Is an Illusion.
Awards
Palm Springs International Film Festival
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
