“Magic in the Moonlight” Woody Returns to Romance (Film Review)

MAGIC MOONLIGHT poster

Returning to his romance formula, Woody Allen puts a little enchantment in his newest film, Magic in the Moonlight.  The film has a bewitching cast and the story to match.  Using some interesting twists, that just when you think that Allen has missed the mark and his film’s predictable, the door opens on another chapter.  Maybe it’s not an awards magnet like Midnight in Paris and Hannah and Her Sisters, but a good ‘date flick’ none the less.

The film opens with a magic show in progress featuring the world famous Chinese magician Wei Ling Soo.  The presentation has the audience rapt as a huge elephant comes on the stage.  In a matter of minutes with a wave of misdirection and juxtaposition, poof the elephant disappears to the roar of applause of a gratified audience.  Later back stage we find that Wei Ling Soo is really Stanley Crawford (Colin Firth) who uses the disguise so he may be able to enjoy a private upscale social life.   

Stanley (Colin Firth) walks with Sophie (Emma Stone) as she sees a vision

Stanley (Colin Firth) walks with Sophie (Emma Stone) as she sees a vision

On that same night he gets a visit from a good friend Howard Burkan (Simon McBurney) who has a task in mind.  Since Stanley has an aversion to spiritualists who claim to be masters of the dark arts and able to contact the spirits of the dead, Howard offers a wager that he cannot expose the renowned psychic medium Sophie (Emma Stone) as a fake.  Offering him a chance to visit the estate of the Catledge family on the beautiful French Cote d’Azur as an extra incentive, Stanley agrees to take on the task.

Howard (Mcburney) and Stanley (Firth) walk with Vanessa Catledge (Eileen Atkins)

Howard (Mcburney) and Stanley (Firth) walk with Vanessa Catledge (Eileen Atkins)

Stanley arrives at the estate and a day later gets introduced to Sophie with her manager mother (Marcia Gay Harden), and he thinks he has it all figured out. When he sees a bit of romance for him in her eyes however, his ability to use good judgment gets clouded. Director and writer Woody Allen smartly lets the cinematography be a major part of the story showing the French estate in all its marvelous glory.  The actors are just pawns that he moves across the screen acting out his story on the magnificent stage. Even the costumes are enchanting showing the opulence of 1920’s France and some sly stitching to enhance the beauty of the actors.

Sophie and Stanley enjoy the estate

Sophie and Stanley enjoy the estate

Not to put a downer on Allen’s story, but his dialogue does become a might too ordinary and could put a damper on his modern audience as being a bit too reserved.  Even the cordial greetings get a tad overstated, banter between Stanley and Sophie a little plastic and predictability of each scene, well, not cunning enough. He does delight in keeping the movie in the period, manners impeccable and delightful settings that may make one want to droll for a chance to live the 20’s French sumptuous life.

Firth puts his best foot forward and makes his character arrogant yet charming, enough to convince Sophie that he’s really at the estate as a guest enjoying a well earned rest.  He avoids her questions that may trip him up as the man who’s going to expose the fake medium, yet her allure makes him susceptible enough to fall into some of her traps. Firth goes beyond the ordinary here and for that he saves the film.  He may be the straight man to the comedy scenes, but he puts on a impressive show as a man mesmerized by Sophie’s magnetism.

Flapper era costumes and a view from the estate

Flapper era costumes and a view from the estate

Doing her impression of a smart woman that can entice any man who’s susceptible to a relationship, Emma Stone gives an alluring performance.  While it’s a good way to wriggle her way into his arms for control of a budding relationship, the dialogue becomes overly mawkish at times and creates an uneven performance for the lovely star.  Stone seems like her Sophie is just offhandedly responding at times instead of conversing with Stanley.  This gets distracting, but by no means ruins the outcome of the movie.

Magic in the Moonlight has been rated PG-13 by the MPAA for a brief suggestive comment, and smoking throughout.  It does make a very good date film, although the male counterpart may be hesitant to choose the chick flick.  Just bribe him with a chance to make you happy, that usually works on me.

FINAL ANALYSIS: A very charming film for romantics who like surprises. (C+)

Additional Film Information:
Cast: Colin Firth, Emma Stone, Simon McBurney, Marcia Gay Harden and Jacki Weaver
Directed by: Woody Allen
Genre: Romantic Comedy
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for a brief suggestive comment, and smoking throughout
Running Time: 1 hr 33 min
Release Date: August 15, 2015
Distributed by: Sony Pictures Classics

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