Tonight, Mr. Jackson will be sporting a double-breasted fuchsia suit with a light pink silk tie, a red carnation on his lapel, matching horn-rimmed glasses with a monocle dangle effect, plus a subdued afro wig generously strewn with tinsel … oh yes, the costumer had a field day with this one. And, truth be told, Samuel L. Jackson’s bizarre outfits are indeed the best, but not sole, reason to see Unicorn Store, Brie Larson’s feature-length directorial debut.
Director/star/unicorn-whisperer Brie Larson plays such a loser in this film, one wonders how much was intended to be biographical. Kit (Larson) can’t handle the intense art school scene; her desire to glitterize 24/7 is not the inspiration her profs are looking for. What are parents Bradley Whitford and Joan Cusack to do when their adult art school dropout has decided to spend her life on the couch?
There’s only so many “Why can’t you be like your brother?”s before one snaps, y’know? So which Kit will surface? Aw, rats, something of responsible version, trading rainbows for pantsuits and immediately landing a temp job in a vacuum cleaner company. And that’s when the messages start coming. Imagine a personalized spam campaign and you get where this is heading. Kit is badgered by an series of ads entirely catered to her and her alone.
I should mention at this point that Unicorn Store may not be Airplane! But it has a wonderful sense of humor, demonstrated in full when Kit finally gives into the pressure and follows the flyers to Samuel L. Jackson’s Unicorn Store. Yes, he is selling unicorns. One at a time. To targeted, isolated, lonely patrons like Kit. Does it seem weird? Oh, Hell yes. And that’s before you get a full look at exactly what Samuel Jackson is wearing.
I know what you’re thinking. I had the same thought for over half a film. “What’s the scam?” Am I right? Well, aren’t we cynical? There appears to be none, just that Kit has to “prepare” for the unicorn, which means making her local plot into the sincerest pumpkin patch in all the land such as to summon the creature willingly. Wait. That’s the plot of “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.” Well, same deal, really. And Kit manages to attract an adorable Home Depot employee in the process (Mamoudou Athie). So, Kit, which is superior, your fantasy or your reality? Are you sure?
Unicorn Store seems a tad plot-challenged to go with its reality challenge, but this is a sweet and funny film with a nice message. I doubt many men will get behind film about a depressed grown woman’s desire to own a unicorn, but as there are roughly three dozen commando films for every one about glitter, I think we can stand to hear another perspective. And if I’m being honest, Samuel Jackson and Brie Larson have better chemistry here than they did in Captain Marvel.
Led by a magical trail
Kit follows where I’d opt for fail
“You get to choose!
What’s there to lose?”
Sorry, I get my beasts wholesale
Rated TV-PG, 92 Minutes
Director: Brie Larson
Writer: Samantha McIntyre
Genre: The investment in fantasy
Type of being most likely to enjoy this film: Former little girls who dreamed big
Type of being least likely to enjoy this film: Present little girls who dream big
