Unicorn Store (2017) Poster

(2017)

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7/10
I like it
renogade2 May 2019
So I go on Netflix and come across a movie called Unicorn Store. 'that sounds cute' (I thought to myself) 'let me just check IMDB really quick to see the score'. From then on I get bombarded with negative reviews, half of which seem to be more focused on Captain Marvel then this film. But whatever, I put that aside, because whatever bias I may or may not have towards Captain Marvel, I want to judge this film on its own.

So in short I saw the whole film and I liked it. For me is wasn't the kind of comedy that made me slap my knee because I was bursting out laughing so hard (except kinda on two occasions), this is the kind of humor that made me do a double take on what weird things a characters just said, snickering a bit in disbelief. To be fair, it's kinda a weird movie.

We follow Kit, a peculiar individual to say the least, as she is pressured into adult life whilst also receiving a task that can make one of her childhood dreams come true(You can guess from the title what that is). Now with the adulthood element the film offers a 'fish out of water' scenario for Kit, because as her name suggests, expect to see a kid in Brie Larson's performance. Most comedies star someone who doesn't want to grow up, but they're better described as immature, whereas Kit is a full-grown child. Personally I found this pretty refreshing. Brie Larson plays the role really well with such a childlike wonder and stubbornness for everything. And with naive curiosity she often asks weird questions or goes off topic because of her attention span. I found most of the other characters working really well with her, providing a bit of reality in what would otherwise be a child's fantasy.

The movie does have it's problems though. I found the middle part to be dragging a bit too much, as all the little plot points are slowly prepared for Kit's work and dream quest. And to be fair I really didn't enjoy the business plotline with Gary that much. That one fell a bit flat in characters and plot importance, providing also some of the lesser comedic moments in the film.

But it does pick up again for the third act, which was I really liked. It's the act where everything begins to clash between characters and where the film begins to pack a punch in the emotional department. The comedy is at it's best, providing possibly the film's most memorable moments, and delivers a satisfying ending to the story.

In technical aspects the movie is fine. The direction and cinematography work well, but aren't much to write home about. The production design in The Store was pretty good, otherwise also just fine. The music fits pretty well with the tone. The film kinda has a minimalistic feel to it in technical regards, to be honest.

But to wrap it up, I liked this movie. It's not perfect, but it's a fun watch with some nice little life lessons wrapped up in it. Kit's developing friendship with Mamoudou Athie especially I found really endearing. Samuel L. Jackson is gloriously weird and the parents amusingly dry. I recommend watching it for yourself. It's definitely worth checking out sometime. And hopefully I don't get lynched for liking Brie Larson :)
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6/10
Great Movie for the Outcasts
skatermoon19925 May 2019
I was a little hesitant watching this from other reviews I've read, but I wanted to support Brie Larson on her direction debut. I was not disappointed. The movie is a bit slow to start, but it's great once the pacing gets going. Great casting and writing. It's perfect for the 20 or 30 something who felt like they were "weird" or different growing up or still find that they are still that way now. Great film about believing in yourself and also the impact of mental illness can have on your everyday life. Definitely recommend.
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6/10
Zany brilliance
Boristhemoggy24 May 2020
A girl gets invited by a mysterious stranger to go to a store to get a unicorn. She's wanted one her entire life despite the attempts by her zany parents to normalise her. Sound like a good plot? It's not, but Brie Larson and Samuel L Jackson manage to pull this off and turn it into a sweet lovely film about life and dreams, and love and growing up. I think without Jackson and Larson this would have been a ridiculous film that no-one would like, but they made it work and I now forgive Larson for her searingly bad appearance in Kong.
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7/10
Awesome movie!
krismancini3 July 2019
This movie has a message. Without spoiling anything, if you think you have a bit of weird tendencies, this movie is for you. It's worth your time.

Live your life and ignore the naysayers!!!!
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7/10
If you're considering it, just put it on
msxwilliams19 January 2022
The movie was an aesthetic delight. Whimsical beyond just imagery, even. The plot, however? Alludes me! I remember feeling good about it, perhaps validation upon the ending, but its mediocre once I've had time to disgest/forget.

Recommend if you're already considering it, but if you don't want to enjoy it... you won't!

Give it a go if you're looking to kill a couple hours.
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5/10
An odd film that doesn't know how to be odd
aidanratesmovies6 April 2019
Though the premise is loveably bold, and seemingly fun, Unicorn Store proves to be more awkward and poorly written than it would seem. Brie Larson is at most okay, in this even mess of a film, but its not nearly her acting that is concerning about this picture, but rather her stance as the director. The film seems tonally and emotionally off at times, and though you may want to blame it on the fact that it claims it is being weird, there is a big difference between being so and being random instead. It's not that being weird is necessarily a problem of the film either, but rather it doesn't seem to know how to do so. The film goes all over the place, not knowing what it wants to be, or what it wants to say most of the time. Samuel L. Jackson is by far the best part of this seemingly tv-made film, and makes the best of his poorly written lines/dialogue. In the end, Unicorn Store does make you believe in the magic it was trying to create. Only if it had a better way of getting to the message it was trying to convey, it just may prove to be a decent time. But instead, like the glitter it often uses, it just feels messy. My Rating: 4.75/10
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7/10
Very Quirky Indie Comedy
Jadedviews11 September 2017
Got to see this film at the Toronto International Film Festival. (Was also there for the Red Carpet and Q&A and might I just say Brie Larson is SO SO SO Down to earth.)

This is a coming of age movie about a middle aged woman going through a mid-life crisis. Very clever script and strong performances from Larson and Jackson.

Nice use of shots, with unique touch of shaky cams, and lighting expo. As her directorial debut, I was very impressed!
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3/10
A somewhat embarrassing mess
gjw10 April 2019
This is a very peculiar little film, and not in a good way. I honestly have no idea what it was trying to say, or whether it was trying to be satirical or sincere. Either way, it failed. The character they created was too incompetent and childish for anyone to be sincerely rooting for her bizarre agenda, yet was too sympathetic and harmless to be made an object of scornful ridicule. It's almost as if a 10-year-old girl, with an age-appropriate obsession for glitter and unicorns, wrote the script, not realizing that an adult woman behaving that way would be considered insane, or how exquisitely bad the character's taste is.
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6/10
Delightful, Quirky and Charming
Blue-Grotto28 September 2017
Immersed in a magical realm of glitter, rainbows and unicorns, Kit radiates happiness and positive energy to the outside world. Yet darkness begins to creep into her life. Kit is rejected from art school, cannot find a job or mate, and is subjected to constant needling from parents who are encouraging her to leave the nest. In the face of such pressure, feeling unappreciated and losing faith in her dreams and artistic abilities, Kit displays uncharacteristic behavior. She slips on a bleak business suit and obtains a job at a soul snuffing ad agency with a creepy boss. This is when mysterious invitations arrive at Kit's desk luring her into believing in unicorns again. Friends and family consider an intervention as Kit responds to the invitations, begins building a stable worthy of a unicorn and prepares to smother her unicorn with love.

Brie Larson directs the film and stars as Kit, a creative woman with a fierce desire to be seen for who she truly is. This delightful, quirky and charming film sparkles with feminine energy and pastel colors. Even Samuel Jackson, with a supporting role, is part of the magic and glow. As wonderful as the story is, it needs a little more sophistication and depth, and less straightforwardness. Seen at the Toronto International Film Festival.
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5/10
Just okay
perisho6 April 2019
I'm probably not the target market for this film, maybe it resonates better with younger or female audiences. I did watch the whole thing so it wasn't horrible, I did want to see how it ended.

It's a story about a young woman trying to figure out life and her place in it and how to relate to her family and friends and humanity in general. She seems to gain some insight through her journey. There is a bit of magical realism done in a somewhat clever manner that adds to the allegorical feel.

I did other things while watching it and found it to be okay entertainment to pass the time.
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8/10
I might be the one single person who is the target audience of the movie
x-33664-855043 May 2019
So objectively this movie is not so great, has many flaws and you will probably not like it.

But I loved it and it devastated me with each simple message, like how hard it is to be loved and not doubt oneself when a person is just different and not in the holywoody good polished funny way or how is it to doubt own sanity and validity for it. The purity of the unicorn and the mess of the real live and whatnot. Yes the movie is not very good but I would still recommend it to anyone feeling a bit out of place most of the time.

Also the love they have for each other in the family, combined with the inability to understand each other and the efforts they all put in it in their own ways is just gut wrenching and a strong good message of the movie, if nothing else.
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7/10
Surprisingly Awesome!
leahoakley-828455 April 2019
Loved this film! Love Brie Larson. Was a bit unsure at the beginning, but actually by the end I had warmed to all the characters and what a fabulous end. Really glad I watched this.
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5/10
Charming but Ridiculous
It's a quirky and fun movie, and the vacuum presentation was probably the funniest part. It's kind of a weird movie about a girl dealing with real world problems in an unbelievably ridiculous way. Great performances, but very little substance to the story line. Very cool set designs and costuming.
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7/10
Somewhere over the rainbow
FrenchEddieFelson5 April 2019
Unicorn store is a magnificent modern tale like The Wizard of Oz (Victor Fleming, 1939) was in its time, a metaphoric movie to be apprehended at the second degree. As a child, Kit radiates happiness until gradually becoming a young hardly-happy adult. She's single, unemployed, glued to the sofa in front of the TV all day, able to drink a full glass of wine at one gulp without even realizing it, ... until an unusual salesman from an unusual store disrupts her life. This film deals mainly with stereotypes, conformism and the difficulty of leaving a childhood filled with dreams, to join a world of adults devoid of joy or benevolence.

Growing old does not necessarily mean growing up...

Unicorn store is the first movie directed by Brie Larson, sensational actress in Short Term 12 or Room for instance, and requires then a minimum of indulgence. On April the 5th, 2019, the ratings distribution on IMDb is literally extra-ordinary, with an anti-Gaussian curve: either we worship this movie (25% of 9 or 10), either we hate it (55% of 1 or 2), with a staggering total of 80% with these two extremist groups! I find myself torn by contradictory feelings, as usual in some way, but I globally enjoyed this movie. Although it's imperfect, it's definitely worth a try. And even more than this.
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7/10
Unicorns are rare
feliciasage29 December 2021
I feel that this movie represents the rarity of finding that person who truly loves you for who you are and not the person society expects you to be. Similar to the tv series The Unicorn, Kit found several someones who loves her for who she was in a world of cynics. I see a lot of people missed the point of this film. Not only did she realize that she was just fine the way she was, but she realized that her family was loving, and that no matter how strange people say you might be, there are always people who will relate and love what you love. To take this literally is to be naive. To appreciate the underlying story is to appreciate this film. Also people need yo remember that certain actors such as Samuel L Jackson wouldnt pick a movie for no reason. Understanding basic human emotions will allow people to understand how lost one can feel in this world where we are constantly pressured to be something we're not! I highly appreciate this film and hope other Unicorns will too.
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3/10
I was expecting a point, but I guess not?
educallejero9 April 2019
So:

-Weird, but at 27, Brie Larson didn't look even close to the 22/3 y/o character she was portraying -When the dialogue is good, she delivers, but when its bad, she fails. So, ok performance, but she's not making it better than what it is. -The message? As a manchild myself (not to the obvious exageration of the movie) I was ready to empathize with the character and story, but I think they didn't deliver a clear message (I believe it kinds of contradict itself a bit). -We got a "real story" and a "fantasy world". We got real life and her mind. I was expecting a convergence for the finale, and yet they kind of dropped the ball. You can't have the cake and eat it.

----- She matures... by totally giving into her childlike mentallity, which was what got her into the problematic state in the first place, right? I don't know. I dont' think it makes sense, and I don't think anyone cared. They do pay more attention to show a colorful world which I had little to no interest on watching.

In the end, I didn't hate the movie, it had some (a handful) funny scenes and some (a handful) cute scenes, plus terrible attempts at humor, odd acting choices at times by Brie Larson and a tonal dissonance that is not fixed with an ending that makes sense of it.
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6/10
The Unicorn Store Review
felipepm1710 July 2019
Definitely not a movie for everybody. The movie is beautifully shot and the message is nice, but its no way anything more than what you'd expect.
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3/10
It's kind of....
chaosrachel-951907 April 2019
Just blah I guess. The movie doesn't really go anywhere and drags throughout the hour or so. I really enjoyed the trailer but the movie lack everything considerable.
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6/10
Why are we stuck in the cave if we can fly?
fred-timoteo5 April 2019
Brie Larson opened up her colorful mind and brought us a film about individual affirmation, where art and "neverland" come together as one. A wonderful duo in an inspiring movie.
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5/10
One of those movie you can play while doing something else.
joanacatbagan14 April 2019
Unicorn Store is delightful, quirky and charming film sparkles with feminine energy and pastel colors (I love the hues in this movie). It perfectly captures the "millenial life crisis" that's why it is also relatable. But... as wonderful as the story is, it needs a little more sophistication and depth, and less straightforwardness. Interesting idea from the trailer, but it stops there. It tries to come off as deeply profound yet in the end there's no follow through. Props to all the actors involved though! They did a great job- really amazing acting performances from everyone.

As for Brie Larson's directional debut, this film is a valid effort, but it's obvious the lack of filmmaking maturity. She can do better next time (and I'll surely wait for that movie).

Summary? Still a good watch. One of those movie you can play on TV while doing something else... like washing the dishes, or scrolling through your Twitter.
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8/10
A beautiful film
DoreaBlack25 October 2021
This film is very different to what I've seen before. It speaks to your inner child, especially if you've felt like you don't really belong to this conventional, gloomy society of today. There are some moments which could make you tear up and think about how different the world is for a child and for an adult. The whole story is really beautiful.
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Almost in a genre of its own
canidaos7 April 2019
I did not rate this film because it's in a genre with very few others. A genre, that I would call "drama fairytale for juvenile and older". It starts with being similar to "Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium". However, Unicorn store has more reality and less magic than the afore mentioned one, therefore can be seen as 'not suitable to not-adults-yet'. The film overall has dark visuals, to which whole Kit exterior self-expression is set against. This just stresses more her inability to fit in as well as her loneliness in the world. It is a very easy and effective visual story telling. The film will feel close for those, who fail to execute the social expectations the moment they are considered "adult" simply because of their physical age. However, I would guess that most living the conventional, socially acceptable life, who doesn't believe in Santa Claus, or those, who see the world as a simplistic place of obligations, 'to do lists' and means to execute them, will highly dislike it. On the other hand, those, who see magic in snowfall and snowflakes, rain, momentarily sky-drawings made by lightnings, a budding seed, those, who talk to trees or who ever had an imaginary friend, will feel deep connection to the main character and maybe will not feel so alienated and alone in this world because of their unique, naive, different world view. Oscar Wilde once wrote: "Dreamers and flowers make the world more beautiful. But to neither of them is the world merciful". In a very subtle way, the film encourages to embrace our uniqueness and our fantasies by showing that you don't need to be considered "normal" (one of the worst words ever created in a language) to be loved, to connect. You don't need to adapt to conventional world view to be accepted and be happy. With this message, it resonates with so many Christmas films.

The film can be summarised with a quote from already mentioned "Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium": "I don't know why grown-ups don't believe what they did when they were kids. I mean, aren't they suppose to be smarter?"
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6/10
Brie Larson has a Bright Future in Directing
kjproulx7 April 2019
I'm the type of person who will be all in on a film for being original and unique, regardless of the concept behind the film. For that reason alone, I found myself looking forward to one of Netflix's latest feature films in Unicorn Store. While I can't quite say it lived up to the promise that the trailer set in motion, I can say there are many positives to discuss and for those who do watch this movie, I believe it to be a good conversation starter. I really can't recommend this movie in general, but if you're a fan of quirky indie films with a whimsical feel, you may get a kick out of it. Let's dive in and discover what makes this movie as good as it is weird.

Following Kit (Brie Larson) after she has failed Art school, she takes a temp job at an office, where she has a boring daily routine, making her wish she was still a child, who loved unicorns. Stumbling upon an invitation to a store run by a strange man, she is given a newfound promise that may have her being able to own her own unicorn. The premise of this film is very silly and would never happen in reality, but I feel as though the point behind the script was to get inside the head of this offbeat character and I feel the movie, as a whole, accomplished that.

With all of that said, I believe the weakest aspect of this film is the store itself and the person running it, who is played by Samuel L. Jackson. Having shared the screen on numerous occasions, Jackson and Larson share some very enjoyable chemistry, but I feel that wasn't enough here to really sell me on the whole concept. Although I got the message the movie was trying to sell, his character, along with the idea behind the store he works at, just didn't quite work for me. The overall film worked more than this aspect, but it really detracted from the movie's entirety.

Personally, I feel as though the themes presented throughout this film are very well thought out and play out well throughout the final act. I even found myself slightly tearing up throughout certain moments, but the overall impact of the emotional core is hurt by the overall story itself. That fact that I couldn't buy into certain things hurt my enjoyment, but I enjoyed the cast together as a whole.

In the end, this is a very solid start for Brie Larson as a director and I believe she has enough talent to grow as a filmmaker in the years to come. She has incredible acting talent and the story surrounding her in this film really made for an enjoyable experience, but the second act really drags and makes the film feel very boring. That being said, the set-up is very well done and the conclusion of the film is quite satisfying, so for those reasons alone, I will give Unicorn Store a slightly positive score. A unique idea, buoyed by a mixed execution.
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3/10
Dull
followpre7 April 2019
It's like they remade The Secret Life of Walter Mitty with Brie Larson, thinking they could make an inspiring movie that screams "Follow your dreams"!

Everyone in this movie should've done just that and we could've avoided this desaster.
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7/10
Besides the shaky camera a wonderful film!
Lyra_Nebula5 April 2019
Unicorn Store is a great film!I loved almost everything about this movie, the only thing that i didn't like was the handheld camera that they used in some parts that lead to shakiness. But the message that they pass is wonderfull. I cryed, I laughted and felt the magic <3
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