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The Temple of Geek podcast, hosted by Kari, dives into the movie The American Society of Magical Negroes. Kari welcomes guest Natacia, a non-binary Black femme with a passion for film, television, and social media discussions. Together they give their honest thoughts about the film. A warning is issued for spoilers to those who haven’t seen it yet.
The American Society of Magical Negroes, is a new comedy film that takes a satirical look at the trope of the magical Black character who exists solely to help white protagonists. Written and directed by Kobi Libii in his directorial debut, the film stars Justice Smith as a young Black man who discovers a hidden society of Black people with magical abilities dedicated to uplifting white people. David Alan Grier and An-Li Bogan also star.
The film premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival on January 19th and was released in theaters nationwide by Focus Features on March 15, 2024.
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Movie Review: The American Society of Magical Negroes
The Temple of Geek podcast, hosted by Kari, dives into the movie “American Society of Magical Negroes.”
Initial Thoughts on the Movie
Kari asks for Natasha’s initial thoughts on the movie. Natasha admits to entering with measured expectations, aiming for an open mind. They felt the movie missed the mark in its message and target audience. While some cute rom-com moments existed, the overall experience felt underwhelming.
Kari shares a similar experience. Having avoided spoilers, they expected a fantasy film based on the title. However, it turned out to be a social commentary with a fantasy element seemingly added for distinction. They felt the movie arrived a few years too late for maximum impact.
Both Kari and Natasha found the movie’s title referencing the “Magical Negro” trope understandable. However, they felt the title wasn’t accessible to a broad audience and the movie itself lacked strong fantasy elements. This created a disconnect between audience expectations and the film’s true focus.
Finding Positives
Kari acknowledges Natasha’s dislike for the movie but clarifies they didn’t hate it. Natasha points to the cute moments between Aaron and Lizzie, the love interests, as a positive aspect. They praise actress An-Li Bogan’s screen presence and acknowledge that actor Justice Smith did well in his role.
Natasha suggests the movie could be an entry point for some viewers new to social discussions about race relations. However, they acknowledge that in 2024, such a basic introduction might not be as necessary.
Kari agrees, finding the rom-com aspect with Lizzie the most enjoyable part. They find it ironic that this wasn’t supposed to be the movie’s highlight.
About our Hosts
Natacia is a Black queer content creator who loves to discuss nerd culture and fandom media, especially Star Wars and the MCU. They share a podcast, Pop Chatter, with their best friend and co-host Lindsay to chat about all things pop culture. You can find Natacia on Twitter and TiKTok at @nknapper and their podcast Twitter account at @popchatterpod.
Kari is well known in the Star Wars fandom on TikTok as @estarguarstia. Her Tiktok account has become a safe place for fans who love the prequels. And she enjoys giving a thoughtful approach to discussing Star Wars. She is also a contributor at Temple of Geek.
