Unicorn Store (2017)

Director: Brie Larson
Stars: Brie Larson, Samuel L. Jackson, Joan Cusack
Runtime: 92 minutes

Synopsis: A woman named Kit receives a mysterious invitation that would fulfill her childhood dreams.

Performances: 4/10
Screenplay: 2/10
Costumes/Makeup: 6/10
Editing: 6/10
Cinematography: 5/10
Score/Soundtrack: 4/10

Verdict: Oh boy.

There has been no doubt in my mind that Brie Larson was a more than talented actress since I watched her in her breakthrough role in "Short Term 12" back in 2013. The confirmation came 2 years later with her Oscar-winning performance in Lenny Abrahamson's "Room".

"Unicorn Store", her latest project which also serves as her directorial debut, is unfortunately one to forget. About Kit's search for happiness in a world dominated by responsibilities and a boring, repetitive lifestyle, the film, despite being incredibly colorful, felt ironically pale.

I'm truly struggling to point out elements I actually enjoyed about the movie that sees Samuel L. Jackson and Brie Larson reunite only a month after they shared the screen in "Captain Marvel". I mean, the characters were all annoying and parodies of themselves, the humor was ineffective, the message was delivered in an obvious, almost aggressive way that lacked both genuineness and heart. Even the actors struggled to deliver performances worthy of their standards.

I do believe, however, that the film's screenplay written by Samantha McIntyre was its ultimate demise, and not Larson's directorial skills, For that reason, I hope that "Unicorn Store", which had a hard time finding a distributor and was ultimately picked up by Netflix two years after it debuted at TIFF back in 2017, doesn't serve as the nail in the coffin of Brie's directorial career, and that she'll have a chance to really prove her worth in the future with a better, more consistent script.      

FINAL GRADE: 3/10