Half Magic (2018) User Reviews

Confused morally leads to a confused movie

[name99-92-545389 · 4/10 · 7 June 2022]

I know morality is an old-fashioned word - replace it with "worldview" or "philosophy of life" if you prefer. Whatever the terminology, the main thing this move reveals is a deep confusion in every one involved. They're obviously unhappy with much of modern life, OK; but are unwilling to consider why, or how to fix this. They think they're unhappy because they don't have love/pleasure, but what they're really missing is meaning and responsibility. They think they're surrounded by morons, but give zero indication of why a non-moron would want to date them. The central conceit of the story: "wish for a man and magic will happen", without demanding any self-work, any thought, any introspection, is a more powerful metaphor than the creators appreciated.

Interesting as a slice of how so many women have been let down by *women* in the media; but nothing more than that.

Nice concept but poor execution

[aurora_cat · 5/10 · 2 December 2018]

I love a story of female empowerment and friendship and witchcraft, but this whole experience was weird. It's full of great comedy actors but they barely had a chance to shine. The dialogue was weak, music wasn't good, scenes felt disconnected and chopped together, the whole thing needed to be fleshed out a lot more. You want to root for these women but they were written like naive little girls. And it fails every Bechdel test. I really want to see quality films of and by women but we have to reach a higher caliber. Maybe the budget wasn't there. I will say I loved Stephanie Beatriz, she was very endearing. And Tom Lennon is always great.

The first 15 minutes is genius

[mike-c-b · 5/10 · 20 November 2019]

It's an 'electric relationship action-movie', but there were too many scene-breakers.

The work-boss "villain" acts like an over-confident misogynist one moment, then a careful thinker the next...

Most of the other scenes drag on too long with mumbling and the ladies just standing their hating themselves for no reason...

I'm a life-long fan of Stephanie Beatriz, but she didn't play to her real personality (fiesty, direct, vivid, level-headed) except for a dominatrix part and a few other scenes, she stretched to be electric like Heather Graham.

Heather is great but you have no idea what her goals are in life except finding the right guy by accident, as she doesn't appear frustrated at anything.

All the guys in the movie are portrayed as confused

NO magic

[lynansaysingle · 2/10 · 31 August 2018]

I am not sure where the high ratings came from but I really did not enjoy this film. The acting is not that good. Heather Graham is there so I thought it might be a good show but I was wrong. I was waiting for something entertaining to happen as I watch but nothing. The plot is not that exciting, its not really funny. The story is not thought out and weak. The characters portrayed are forgettable.

Maybe I'm the wrong gender

[Eddie_weinbauer · 1/10 · 20 October 2019]

Here. But this movie,is as unfunny as it gets. Heather, is usually quite good when she is in front of the camera. Even in Licence to drive, were she was probably only hired to be eye candy. She manage to steal the light and shine.

But this..This comes of as a feminist propaganda parody. The dialogue is flat an boring, and doesn't do anything to drive the movie forward. The chemistry just isn't there. They act like stranger to each other,having and awkward conversation in an elevator. They meet at a seminar of sort, were the theme is: My vagina is powerful and smart. My boobs are fantastic. This is a mantra they all chant in union,while breathing correctly. I mean C'mon ladies, is this really what the empowerment is all about?

I have no doubt Heather has met her quota of sleazy producers. But making this garbage, just make em seem in their right ,when they deny you the opportunity to write a scripts and have it made.

The story is bout heather's character trying to get a movie made,while her movie star boyfriend. Keep shutting her ideas down,and walking all over her. Saying indirectly that women in film are just to be eye candy.

The jokes aren't funny. The storyline is boring, The line delivery is flat,And characters uninteresting.

Sadly with this movie heather only made it that much harder for people with really good script, to get any sort of movie deal.

Half-funny

[mystatm · 1/10 · 13 January 2022]

A few amusing scenes, but overall, in the continuity of those now countless films with a disturbing lack of creativity in the conception of "women's empowerment".

Cute, and True, Too

[Moviegoer19 · 7/10 · 8 April 2018]

I think Heather Graham did a great job with this film, mainly because it captures the ambivalence that so many women live and cope with. Even beautiful, successful, sexy women have self-doubt and problems with men. What I found amusing and fascinating was how the so-called "consciousness raising" in this film differed from the kind I was part of in the 60's and 70's. This film shows women taking control of themselves and their lives with much more fun, flare, and flashiness. I also think Graham did a great job of weaving the stories of the three friends throughout the film. This also made the film so much about the importance of female friendships in our lives. Overall, it turned out to be much better than I thought it would. It's a film that's fun and insightful, too.

Not worth the time

[itscharleigh2002 · 1/10 · 3 November 2018]

Don't know if this got any better but gave up after 15 minutes

Very enjoyable,funny, sexy movie !!!

[tizipapa · 7/10 · 5 March 2018]

As first reviewer for this movie, I have to say that I really enjoyed it, it has all the elements for a nice romantic comedy, I recommend this movie to anyone who wants to spend a lovely, funny, sexy time.

One or two funny moments.

[The_Techpriest · 17 March 2018]

One or two funny moments. Otherwise it portrays women as utterly pathetic creatures, and no im not some internet SJW, infact, as far away from it as possible.

This doesn't make sense!

[samuelbailey10 · 2/10 · 13 December 2018]

This movie had 2 actress I really like , it's very unfortunate that it's a bad movie. It's a really bad movie ,I read in one of the reviews above that, this was a true movie. That was wrong and I mean very wrong,to be in the mental state of mind it took for the writers to write this mess,one would have to be delusional. The plot made no sense at all.

Great Movie About Women Friendahips

[errinnicholas · 10/10 · 22 December 2018]

This is a beautiful movie about women being friends and supporting each other as they demand what they deserve in life. Is it cheesey? As heck. Does it pass the Bechdel Test? I'm pretty sure that it does not. But it's a movie by, about, and for women that shows it's absolutely possible to be a feminist and still be girly, want a boyfriend, and enjoy sex. We need 200 more movies like this made yesterday.

Saturday Night Live Goes to the Movies

[genkideska-89567 · 7/10 · 2 February 2019]

7/10

For women aged 45-55, The Devine Female experience. Three women met and become friends while attending an all women's workshop celebrating their devine feminine qualities. Halarious chants about freedom from fear, failure and anything that holds women back in life.

This is a laugh out loud, not to be taken seriously, romantic comedy. I would call it Sex in the City meets Saturday Night Live. Each woman tells their story and express frustration at their inability in finding a date worth keeping. It's what all women want: a relationship with someone who is intelligent, passionate and kind.

Each storyline is engaging, realistic and funny. I have watched it 3 times and laugh at something different each time. Rent it, watch it with your girlfriend's over margaritas and laugh.

Terrible

[atheerak · 1/10 · 1 October 2018]

Nothing about this movie is good in anyway not a good start and a good ending !!!

Mostly crap

[cudax · 2/10 · 26 June 2022]

Heather Graham is occasionally a half good actress, but this steaming pile is not one of those times. The rest of the cast mostly shine in their parts, and, the story itself is certainly valid, albeit a ripoff of other much better movies, but she (Graham) totally sucks as a writer/ director! She needs to stick to being a mediocre actress and leave the rest to grownups! Of course, thanks to Hollywood for trying to convince us that all some women need is good looks! Thank goodness for the real shining women stars like Kathy Bates, Helen Mirin and many others who rely on brains, inner strength and goodness, and, also raw talent! This is what defines true beauty in my opinion.

Less than half magic

[shelleyslegg · 2/10 · 10 August 2019]

This movie was really not good. I don't know how I got through it to be honest! Not really sure why it was called half magic, all they did was light a few candles - I thought I was going to be watching a tale of modern day witches and empowerment but it certainly was not. It was also extremely tacky and cringey for the most part.

Half Magic is in the Lower Half for Quality

[andyhain · 25 October 2020]

Half Magic is in the Lower Half for Quality, due to the presence of the jerk, Chris D'Elia, who thinks he's funny. Half Magic never had a chance... The other performers put on better performances, and the story was at least decent.

What a let down of a movie!

[jkt2006 · 4/10 · 28 April 2020]

It begins as a promising one, with Heather Graham showing her acting skills and the viewer's expectations from this great actress as a director as well. And yes it is a good concept too but starts to fall on its face with bad execution, bad editing, it's feels very disjointed too. One keeps waiting for something amazing to happen going by the promising trailer but alas it was not meant to be, it seems! Sorry Heather, waiting for your next venture, just make sure the movie is better than the trailer and not the other way round!!

Sweet and charming

[smatysia · 7/10 · 31 March 2021]

I quite enjoyed this film, especially being a long-time fan of the three lead actresses, especially Angela Kinsey. Full disclosure: I'm a guy, and therefore cannot always relate to the tribulations of womanhood. Even so, I found it entertaining, poignant, sweet and charming.

Suffers from not being funny enough or unique

[stevelivesey-37183 · 5/10 · 31 January 2024]

I love Heather Graham. I think she is a decent actress who does have some comedy and dramatic chops. Let's just say that her directing and writing needs work.

I wanted to like this, but really struggled. The problem is that it's not funny enough and the characters are just not likeable either. They make silly decisions about men who are generally awful, 2D caricatures.

The supporting cast has great pedigree but seem to be wasted with this material. In short, Heather seems to have played safe with this outing. There are too many scenes that just fizzle out or despite a good set up just lack that comedic punch. Chris D'elia comes off quite well as the awful boss.

"Candlight Ephiphany"

[Kamurai25 · 7/10 · 15 September 2020]

Really good watch, could watch again, and can recommend.

Heather Graham, Angela Kinsey, and Stephanie Beatriz play off each so well in this. It honestly reminds me of "Bad Moms" without kids and less ridiculous.

This is a "chick flick" in its truest form. It's not good (or bad) because of that, but it's just a focus of the movie, feeling lost and empowered as a woman character. They make an excellent choice in using Chris D'Elia to portray the chauvinist industry of movies (if to a bit of an extreme).

This is also the second time I've seen Johnny Knoxville play a priest, unsettling both times.

While the concept of candle based witchcraft is somewhat intriguing, it's just a mechanic (same as the workshop) to interweave the multiple story threads. It would be a little more satisfying if they had a more legitimate bond than "we met this one time" established at the beginning of the story. On the other hand it makes the formula flexible enough that it could be that they joined through AA or a convention, so I can see the use of doing something like this.

The movie is charming, and it's good (refreshing in the very least) to see feminine perspective of a romantic / sex based humor of this quality.

While I think this is better than average, it's not quite "Bad Moms" level of humor.

Very enjoyable movie!

[titasa_91 · 8/10 · 23 October 2018]

I loved this movie! Sure it is not an oscar material kind of movie, but as a woman, I absolutely loved it, it had a great message, the acting was pretty good even with a straightforward plot. It's a great self-love movie that we should learn from.

the movie is just so enjoyable

[dedew-79125 · 9/10 · 24 March 2018]

I looooove this movie. hillarious. this movie is my spirit animal lol even there's so many sexual jokes that not suitable for younger viewers, for adult this movie just so true and enjoyable.

Make your own rules Ms. Graham!

[humblekat · 8/10 · 18 April 2018]

We could look back in 30 years at Half Magic and see it as Heather's "THX-1138". Except much funnier.

Heather Graham took (likely some very intentional, others due to budget and novice status) risks with the form of what we think of as a movie and narrative. She put her 3 heroines in the center and kept them there, weaving them in and out, and came at the story from a female, truthful, honest, real, and extremely funny point of view. Life is typically messy, so, why not reflect that in the story? At the same time, her supporting cast was all very well developed.

Her sex scenes in particular (good and bad) were written for a woman's appreciation, first. I'd say more, but, I don't want to give away some of the details to those who haven't seen it. (*cough* GPS)

Her heroines as well as nearly everyone else had _AGENCY_. And there isn't a woman in the western world who hasn't met at least some of the men & women she portrays in real life.

I'm not saying it's flawless in terms of it's construction. Considering she sticks her thumb completely in the eye of formulaic movie execs within the movie (just by trueing up to what is!), it wasn't going to be. She has probably annoyed "comfortable" industry people who, frankly, needed to be annoyed (see: #MeToo), but, if she had a cooperative mentor might have been able to tighten up the form in this one.... but if she lost any of the truth of the story that would have been a shame.

It was Totally Fun to see several women I know in the crowd scenes, and to see the truth reflected in the "wow, I've had that conversation!" And laughing out loud at all the things we think but don't say, and giving the side-eye to what doesn't quite feel right... the payoff was Delicious.

Yeah, some things would have been better with a bigger budget. But Graham didn't leave us wanting on Story or Character. Well done!

Fun, Charming

[jaigurudavid · 9/10 · 2 February 2020]

I'm not the kind of person that would normally enjoy a chick flick, but this was a fun film. I have to admit I didn't understand all of it, being male, but the rapport between the three actresses was engaging and entertaining. Of course, the eye candy helped. This film certainly deserves better than a 4.6 average score.