Film Review – The American Society of Magical Negroes

Actor Kobi Libii (“Alpha House,” “Madame Secretary”) makes his directorial debut with “The American Society of Magical Negroes.” It’s a playful, barbed title in search of a better movie, with Libii (who also scripts) taking a look at American racism with material that’s sometimes mischievous and mostly heavy-handed. It’s a “Harry Potter”-esque portal into an unseen world of black subservience, with Libii looking to have some fun with the fantasy elements of the endeavor, but he’s primarily hunting for a more human story about a black man who’s been too timid during his days, finally understanding, with the help of sorcery, his individuality. The idea is a solid one, open for an uproarious and thought-provoking ride through the state of race relations in 2024. However, the helmer doesn’t have a plan for it all, creating a juicy Spike Lee-esque tale, only to offer Malcolm D. Lee-style direction for it. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com