Magic Spot

MOVIE #1,967 • SCORE 10/10 • 09.16.24
SERIES: FARLEY & ROXBURGH DIRECTOR FOCUS

I loved this one completely and think it’s the perfect summation/culmination of everything that Farley and Roxburgh have been working towards making no-budget cinema in New England for the last decade and counting. It has amazing songs that never outstay their welcome…


It's a goofy, meme-like joke that they made into a T-shirt…


… but the idea of acclimating seems to parallel the plotline with Alyssa learning to love her small town again? Also there’s a theme of the ephemeral nature of entertainment (and life in general), with not recording the local cable show within the movie that parallels the message found in the closing musical number sung by the legend Kevin McGee (lyrics: “if you waste your time staring at the past you're gonna miss out on the joys of the present”).

I think this is the best movie in their filmography because, while the others all had their obvious charm, this is the first one that has real (unironic) heart. Genuine care went into the construction and presentation of the themes here and it shows. It's still packaged within the off-kilter world they've established (and probably has the most delightfully convoluted plot by far) so they didn't compromise a thing. They had their cake and ate it too. They made a 10/10 film.

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CHRONOLOGICALLY
⫷ MOVIE #1,966 - (YOU ARE HERE) - MOVIE #1,968 ⫸

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Two cousins use a Magic Rock to assist their uncle. It was released on May 13, 2022.