Strange Magic

Name: Strange Magic
Genre: Fantasy, Animation, Family, Musical
Released: January 23, 2015
Duration: 99 min
Rating: 25
Cast: Elijah Kelley, Evan Rachel Wood, Kristin Chenoweth, Maya Rudolph

2015

METASCORE

Generally unfavorable reviews based on 20 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 75 Ratings

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Strange Magic

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Movie Details & Credits

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures | Release Date: January 23, 2015 | PG

Starring: Elijah Kelley, Evan Rachel Wood, Kristin Chenoweth, Maya Rudolph

Summary: Popular songs from the past six decades help tell the tale of a colorful cast of goblins, elves, fairies and imps, and their hilarious misadventures sparked by the battle over a powerful potion.

Director: Gary Rydstrom

Genre(s): Fantasy, Animation, Family, Musical

Rating: PG

Runtime: 99 min

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Critic Reviews

Jesse Hassenger

Jan 21, 2015

Strange Magic, an animated film from Lucasfilm and Industrial Light & Magic, borrows its sensibility from another movie from the summer of 2001: "Moulin Rouge." The new film’s composer and music director, Marius De Vries, even arranged songs for Baz Luhrmann’s phantasmagorical musical. Read full review

Claudia Puig

Jan 22, 2015

Strange Magic is strange all right, but hardly magical. Read full review

Bilge Ebiri

Jan 23, 2015

The problem with Strange Magic isn’t so much its derivative story as it is the odd, half-complete way it unfolds. You can sense the weird mixture of tones, influences, ideas — as if the whole thing were still in its planning stages. Read full review

Betsy Sharkey

Jan 22, 2015

The look of the animation has limited charm. The story is primarily a string of life lessons for little ones, impossible to miss. And there is a great deal of singing. I don't think even fools will fall in love with Strange Magic. Read full review

Michael Ordona

Jan 22, 2015

The plot movement feels very much like an unpleasant formality, shoved forward by tiresome devices. Read full review

Steve Davis

Jan 28, 2015

It’s like watching a cartoon version of American Idol on an endless karaoke loop. Read full review

Alonso Duralde

Jan 21, 2015

Terrible character design, combined with a painful lack of laughs and a crushing plethora of ghastly songs, makes Strange Magic perhaps the worst animated feature ever to come out of Disney (which might explain why the studio is releasing the film under its now-rarely-used Touchstone label). Compared to other Lucas missteps of recent years, it’ll make you nostalgic for Jar Jar Binks. Read full review

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User Reviews

war_dog

Sep 15, 2017

This move is a mood changer, if we need to cheer someone up, we just put on this movie, the songs are so happy it is really hard still to be in a sad mood.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

DeaneAoun

Jun 30, 2015

This movie is beautiful, it brings a strong point to the minds of children and even adults, that you will see in few movies. Love can be found in the most unlikely places,and ways. The protagonist, it mainly attractive, and the fact that she fell for a not-so attractive character, brings aThis movie is beautiful, it brings a strong point to the minds of children and even adults, that you will see in few movies. Love can be found in the most unlikely places,and ways. The protagonist, it mainly attractive, and the fact that she fell for a not-so attractive character, brings a key message to the viewers, that everybody deserves love. This can be seen in few movies, and that George Lucas decided to carry this message forward is very beautiful.
The animation was beautiful, something you can tell, the lighting is impeccable.
The music was a surprise, it is over 6 decades of music put into one film, and it brings open a sense of nostalgia to you, the covers and voices are very well done, and I wish there was a PART 2 of this movie.
BRAVO!… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

Garr

Jan 23, 2015

The best movie of the year so far is Strange Magic! It's like a mix of A Mid-summer Night's Dream, Moulin Rouge, Willow, Frozen, and Beauty and the Beast. It has a great story and fantastic characters. It's funny and has fabulous music. It has beautiful animation, terrific female characters,The best movie of the year so far is Strange Magic! It's like a mix of A Mid-summer Night's Dream, Moulin Rouge, Willow, Frozen, and Beauty and the Beast. It has a great story and fantastic characters. It's funny and has fabulous music. It has beautiful animation, terrific female characters, and features some really nice voice acting. What's not to love!… Expand

6 of 16 users found this helpful610

Thegodfatherson

Jan 24, 2015

Strange Magic works as a harmless animated fest. But nothing else. Hollow story doesnt make up for the brilliant characters and okay voice acting. Give it a watch with your kids, for deep characters and great CGI, but everything else is hollow and boring.

1 of 4 users found this helpful13

mikufan84

Jun 20, 2022

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Misguided potential. I actually think the main theme of the movie is rather interesting. And I give HUGE respect to the idea the bog king does not turn pretty, he physically stays the same. But the pacing is not very balanced. So many songs are THROWN at you all at once, it feels like you're put into a teacup ride that refuses to slow down, not to mention the questionable but graphically impressive lighting and art style. That's the weird thing. It does have soul not it simply isn't very well written. I wish this movie had better editing, less emphasis on songs and dialogue. Because I think the romance DOES WORK. And some of the designs are rather cute when they aren't covered in overly detailed hair and fur. This is an odd but intriguing movie that you should check out ONLY if you are aware it's not amazing.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Jacob

Jan 5, 2016

Strange Magic is why people think animation is for kids. Between the ear-bleeding songs every few minutes, the unclear stakes, and lack of characters parents will have to grin and bear this one. Despite Lucasfilm pushing the boundaries in computer animation with Industrial Light and MagicStrange Magic is why people think animation is for kids. Between the ear-bleeding songs every few minutes, the unclear stakes, and lack of characters parents will have to grin and bear this one. Despite Lucasfilm pushing the boundaries in computer animation with Industrial Light and Magic this film doesn’t have anything groundbreaking. Lucasfilm has done some enjoyable animation on television with two Star Wars shows making it baffling that their work on film is not worth watching. Much like the love potion in this film you will quickly ignore this lovefest in favor of other more superior films.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

PrimeCO

Apr 26, 2018

What's NOT to HATE? The terrible character designs, the horrendous writing, the frustratingly predictable love story, the generic and forgettable characters, the pointless use of pop songs, and the kind of painful to look at animation. There's no redeeming qualities, and it should have aWhat's NOT to HATE? The terrible character designs, the horrendous writing, the frustratingly predictable love story, the generic and forgettable characters, the pointless use of pop songs, and the kind of painful to look at animation. There's no redeeming qualities, and it should have a user score as low as Emoji Movies (1.9), not as high as a 5.4. Don't even try with this one.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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