Rent The American Society of Magical Negroes on Amazon Video (paid link)
Written by: Kobi Libii
Directed by: Kobi Libii
Starring: Justice Smith, David Alan Grier, An-Li Bogan, Drew Tarver, Michaela Watkins, Rupert Friend, Nicole Byer
Rated: PG-13
Watch the trailer
Plot
Aren is recruited into a secret society of magical Black people who dedicate their lives to the cause of making white people's lives easier.
Verdict
Despite the premise, this is light on satire and more of a rom-com. The lack of commentary makes this completely underwhelming. At first I though the romance was just to pad the time, but other than a couple of scenes and a monologue towards the end this isn't a commentary. There's just nothing here. If you strip what little satire is in this movie, you have a standard rom-com. If you remove the rom-com elements, you have the unexplored ideas about how Black must keep white people happy to protect themselves.
Skip it.
Review
This seemed like social satire similar to Sorry to Bother You or Get Out. It's not, this is more of a romantic comedy.
Aren (Justice Smith) is an artist that isn't getting recognized. He's down and out, and gets mistaken for a waiter at his own art show. Embarrassed and unsure of how to react, he doesn't say anything. He's then quickly recruited by Roger (David Alan Grier) for a secretive job. Roger says it's to save the world.
I assume Roger recruited Aren not just for this underwhelming art show, but for a series of actions where Aren placates others. I'm not sure why Roger is in a rush to recruit Aren though. Orientation is that very night and we see a quick history of what this group has done for whites. This could have been a fun moment, but it recreates a scene from The Green Mile. I don't get it. It's a joke I didn't expect. I would have liked for this to use historical events we know, or if this is a joke to throw in The Legend of Bagger Vance as well as a few other movies. This scene should be one that informs me how to view this movie. Is this going to make commentary through actual events or use comedy and other movies. It does neither, and I don't know how to view this. I wanted it to show us how Black people are behind some of the greatest white achievements.
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| Justice Smith plays Aren |
Aren gets a class on how to be nice to and acceptable to whites by embracingpreconceived stereotypes. The thesis of this movie is that white people are dangerous, and most dangerous when uncomfortable. Happy white people equals safe black people. This idea would work so much better if the movie expounded on it, and showed us how this is true in history and provided a real example of what Aren is trying to prevent. Why is he tasked with helping some white guy at a social media company? What are the stakes?
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| Justice Smith, An-Li Bogan play Aren, Lizzie |
Aren starts working at the social media company to help Jason (Drew Tarver). Why does Jason matter in the grand scheme of things? Who knows. This is where the movie becomes a rom-com. Aren likes Lizzie (An-Li Bogan) who works at the same company. Jason also likes Lizzie. This story line at first seems like a way to fill space. What I thought this movie was and what it actually is diverges at this point. There's very little satire and just this love triangle. Aren is caught between liking Lizzie and his job of making Jason happy. Aren is upset, but how has no one else every had an issue with this job and in Aren's case the pointlessness of it? This needs stakes. This movie is a missed opportunity. Instead the stakes are Aren wanting to reveal the truth to Lizzie and tell Jason to get over himself. Jason gets opportunities because he's a white man, but I still don't understand how Aren helping Jason will make the world more safe.
Aren has a big monologue at the end to make his point and verbalize his issues and problems with society. This movie would be much stronger if the movie showed us this instead of having to relay it all in a monologue. I wish this was either more serious or more comedic. A love triangle isn't the way to make the point.that Black people are forced to conform to a white society.
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