Unicorn Store
Starring: Brie Larson, Samuel L. Jackson, Joan Cusack, Bradley Whitford
Directed by: Brie Larson
Rated: PG-13
It’s not easy to find your place in the world. No matter your occupation, we all struggle to find where exactly we fit in. Kit is an aspiring artist attempting to make her way through art school. After a few too many rejections, she finds herself living at her parent's house, unsure what to do next. She takes a job at a temp agency and tries her luck in the business world. When it seems there just isn’t a place for Kit, she receives an invitation to a store that could change her life.
Unicorn Store is Brie Larson’s colorful directorial debut. Larson has done an excellent job crafting a film that is both whimsical and emotional. One of my favorite aspects of this film is the contrast of Kit’s work-life vs. her home life. When she goes to work, the entire office is dull, lifeless, and grey expressing her disconnect with the experience. Yet, when she leaves work, the scenes explode with color to show how joyful she can be.
The screenplay by Samantha McIntyre hits on several emotional themes. What may seem on the surface like a whimsical story about a girl who wants a unicorn becomes much more meaningful. The unicorn serves to symbolize all of the things that Kit needs to believe in herself and keep going. As an aspiring filmmaker, I found Kit to be very relatable (and I’m sure many creative types do as well). I don’t fit into a traditional career path, and that can feel strange at times. But, you have to keep going and hold on to your creativity.
Brie Larson captures a mixture of wonder and sadness in Kit as she deals with constant rejection, but hopes that her dream of owning a unicorn might come true. When she hears that her unicorn dream could become a reality, her whole world changes. It’s all she’s ever wanted in life. As audience members, we see that Kit is naïve, but we can’t help but root for her. We want her to be happy. After seeing this movie, I think that Captain Marvel should have a unicorn in the future.
Guess who is in this movie? If you guessed Samuel L. Jackson, you’re right! Brie Larson and Samuel L. Jackson are the 2019 duo we need! (They previously teamed up in Captain Marvel). In Unicorn Store, Samuel L. Jackson plays a mysterious salesman at the Store. He’s quite an eccentric character who adds to the dream-like quality of the film.
Mahmoudou Athi is Virgil, a hardware store employee who helps Kit build a stable for her unicorn. Along the way, the two begin an endearing friendship. Virgil provides the voice of reason for Kit and attempts to ground things in reality.
I have to give a special shout out to Joan Cusack and Bradley Whitford as Kit’s parents. They have a great dynamic with Kit and it’s clear they want what is best for her. Each of their scenes fit into the movie wonderfully.
Brie Larson impresses with her whimsical and heartfelt directorial debut, Unicorn Store, a film that embraces the importance of creativity and just being yourself.
My Rating: 8/10
*All images belong to Netflix