Magic Camp

8/10

Magic Camp is about Andy (Adam Devine) a once promising magician fallen on hard times who ends up as a counselor at his childhood magic camp. 

This movie was supposed to be released theatrically in 2018 but got pulled till now and put on Disney+. 'Course this is often a warning sing. Looking at previous cases: Noelle was weak and Artemis Fowl was a failure. I'm pleased to say this isn't the case here. It looks more like an issue of Disney just not being confident that this would be attractive enough to get butts in seats. The movie is very predictable, the traditional has-been or never-will who's forgotten their passion and becomes the mentor of a ragtag group of kids story. But, it's a competently told one, and I was entertained.        

This is a safely made movie. The plot doesn't take any big chances. Cinematography and sets and scenery are basic. (Not to say that the magic camp looks shabby. The place iss nice; it just won't leave an impression.) However, the dialogue has energy has energy and positivity. The movie doesn't skimp on the magic tricks featuring a healthy amount of pleasing props.   

The kid characters are all composed of tropes, such as the girl whose parents are always working and the boy whose father expects him to follow in his footsteps, but the actors are mostly pretty good. The one that stands out most is Isabelle Crovetti as Ruth, a girl who's unhealthily obsessed with and overworked about rabbits. The weak link is unfortunately the head kid Nathaniel McIntyre. He just isn't as strong an actor as the others.    

Devine makes for a good lead. Yeah, his character's more selfish moments can be weak and feel a little too reminiscent of his self-serving characters from such films as Final Girls and Mike and Dave Get Wedding Dates. However, the movie never leans too hard on this. Devine and his character really shine when they're acting off of others. Jeffrey Tambor does a great job as the head of the camp. (I'm appreciating the performance, not addressing the allegations against the actor in real life. This was filmed before or during when they came out.) He makes a fine wise eccentric, and the movie uses the character to poke some light jabs at the predictableness of the mentor trope.

Gillian Jacobs is Darkwood, Andy's successful former partner. She's a good actress and being a Community fan, I was pleased to see her in this. Unfortunately, she's pretty stale here. In fairness, the script and editing makes it look like the creators didn't quite know how to handle the character. There is also a bully in this played by Hayden Crawford. The character was the only painfully predictable element in this. He's just so basic, being the type who immediately goes after the main gang without any logical provocation or reason. He, being the character and not Crawford, who played as intended, adds nothing to this.  

This probably works best as one of those films for the family to watch. It doesn't break the mold, but it's a nice way to spend time.