I've previously complained that some films, even if they weren't terrible, felt like television movies instead of films that deserved a theatrical exhibition. "Magic in the Moonlight" demonstrates that it's possible to make a "small" film that is still eminently worthy of being shown in theatres.
The film never reaches operatic heights of drama or comedy, but that doesn't matter. It is full of charm and whimsy, helped along by two fun and quirky lead performances: Emma Stone as a psychic receiving the patronage of a wealthy family, and Colin Firth as the illusionist determined to prove her a fraud. Their playful chemistry is engaging and the script gives them no shortage of witty retorts to toss back and forth. That all of this dialogue is delivered against the backdrop of the French Riviera adds to the film's charm.
The plot progression is natural, hitting all the right beats along the way. While some deeper issues are touched upon, the film is more concerned with showing its audience a good time than with really making them think too hard. The pleasure in watching comes less from wondering what will happen next than from wondering how the characters will react to it and what clever comments they'll have to make. Even the films' bigger reveals seem designed more to be "fun" than shocking. Ironically, this is similar to the watching a magic show--a scene the film opens with. Rarely are we surprised when watching a magician pull off a classic trick. We know he's going to pick our card, make the elephant disappear, etc. We're in it for the fun, not the surprise.
Some of the scenes near the very end of the film run a little long. The dialogue is almost clever enough to render this problem moot, but not quite. The film shuffles its feet just a little too much on its way to the ending which, like the rest of the film, does not surprise, but manages to be fun and charming.
B+
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