The latest from writer/director Woody Allen is a left turn of sorts from his previous effort, Blue Jasmine. Magic in the Moonlight drops the heavy subject matter of that picture for a lighter tone. This is a subtle and low-key period comedy with a very direct story. Yet after a time, it begins to work a spell of its own. The end result is a slight but sweet and enjoyable romp. It may not be quite as substantial as the director’s best work, but it is a fun movie guaranteed to raise a chuckle.
Stanley (Colin Firth) is a professional illusionist with a passion for exposing spiritualists as frauds and phonies. He’s all too happy to help when his friend Howard (Simon McBurney) asks for his assistance in unmasking Sophie (Emma Stone), a woman with unusual psychic gifts. However, Stanley finds the task far more difficult than anticipated. Not only does he find it incredibly challenging to debunk her claims, but the two begin to develop romantic chemistry. It isn’t long before a befuddled Stanley begins to question his own rigid belief systems.
Allen takes a reserved and mannered approach to the material – it almost carries the feel of a BBC television series. Yet that isn’t to say that the film is unfunny. In fact, it’s a superb showcase for star Firth. The Stanley character is a smart-mouthed skeptic and he’s given some hilariously cutting verbal barbs. It is also amusing to hear the uptight character officiously compliment his fiancée as perfectly suited for him. As expected, Firth’s comedic timing is excellent and he does an exceptional job of keeping the stiff protagonist likable. And by the midpoint, it makes his frustration and exasperation all the more enjoyable.
Compliments must also be paid to Stone. Sophie could have easily been played in an over-the-top and ditsy manner, but the actress dials down the eccentricity considerably. This results in a funny but somewhat mysterious character who isn’t as easy to get a read on as one might initially expect. Again, it lends more spark to the relationship as the movie progresses and makes it difficult for viewers to determine what is actually occurring. Thanks to the work of the two leads, the film itself begins to have a similar effect on audiences as it does Stanley – it slowly begins to win them over to its side. Of course, it also doesn’t hurt that there are some lovely locations around the French Riviera on display that add to the overall mood.
In the end, this is a very charming movie that builds momentum as it progresses and provides a few laughs along the way. Magic in the Moonlight certainly deals with supernatural elements. In a subtle and sensitive way, it even explores why people want so badly to believe in the fantastic. Even if many seemingly miraculous things in this world can be explained in perfectly straight-forward and rational ways, the film effectively conveys a powerful idea. Ultimately, the unpredictable desires of the heart can’t be quantified or explained in rigid, scientific terms.