What’s It About
A young man gets recruited into a secret society of magical Black people who dedicate their lives to making white people’s lives easier. Although initially enamored with his new powers, he begins to question the value of using supernatural means to do the very thing he’s felt obligated to do his whole life
MOVIESinMO REVIEW
In “The American Society of Magical Negroes,” Justice Smith rocks it as Aren, this kinda sad, super lonely artist in L.A., whipping up these really gloomy, abstract yarn things that nobody likes. His latest masterpiece hits this art show, but it’s like everyone’s just staring at it, wondering what the heck they’re looking at. Then, this white art collector guy thinks he’s part of the waitstaff. Aren just rolls with it and gets the guy a drink instead of breaking it down that he’s actually the artist. Then, this waiter guy who’s been eyeing Aren all night pops up. His name is Roger (David Alan Grier), a chill older guy who’s here to bring Aren into this secret club, the American Society of Magical Negroes. They’re all about being these low-key superheroes, helping out white folks in crisis to avoid them dumping their stress on Black people. This secret base is hidden behind a barbershop, like a Mission Impossible movie. That place was the only cool visual vibe in the whole film. Aren’s first mission? Help out Jason (Drew Tarver), this self-centered tech boss at MeetBox who thinks he’s the next big thing. Aren gets a job there and basically becomes Jason’s shadow, helping him chill without ever showing any personality of his own. And yeah, this whole thing turns into a workplace rom-com, too. Aren bumps into Lizzie (An-Li Bogan), his awkward love interest, making things messy since she’s also the apple of Jason’s eye. But, the film’s like throwing a bunch of ideas into a blender—none of it mixes well. It tries to take on too much, from poking fun at certain stereotypes to exploring these deep issues but ends up feeling lost. Before joining the society, Aren was pretty much a blank slate—no friends, no real gig, just him and his art nobody gets. And his big moment at the end? It feels more like a lecture than an actual climax, and his journey doesn’t hit home because he never had a solid starting point. The movie tries to tackle some serious themes but gets lost in its plot and the love story angle. It’s a mix of trying too hard and not trying enough in places that matter. The jokes and references to old tropes are there, but they don’t land with any significant impact or insight. It’s like, we get it’s supposed to be a satire, but it feels a bit flat and doesn’t bring anything new to the table. Despite aiming to discuss critical racial issues and the concept of self-suppression for the comfort of others, it misses the mark of making a strong, coherent statement.
OUR RATING – A POWERLESS 4