• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Catholic Review

Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Menu
  • Home
  • News
        • Local News
        • World News
        • Vatican News
        • Obituaries
        • Featured Video
        • En Español
        • Sports News
        • Official Clergy Assignments
        • Schools News
  • Commentary
        • Contributors
          • Question Corner
          • George Weigel
          • Elizabeth Scalia
          • Michael R. Heinlein
          • Effie Caldarola
          • Guest Commentary
        • CR Columnists
          • Archbishop William E. Lori
          • Rita Buettner
          • Christopher Gunty
          • George Matysek Jr.
          • Mark Viviano
          • Father Joseph Breighner
          • Father Collin Poston
          • Robyn Barberry
          • Hanael Bianchi
          • Amen Columns
  • Entertainment
        • Events
        • Movie & Television Reviews
        • Arts & Culture
        • Books
        • Recipes
  • About Us
        • Contact Us
        • Our History
        • Meet Our Staff
        • Photos to own
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • CR Media platforms
        • Electronic Edition
  • Advertising
  • Shop
        • Purchase Photos
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • Magazine Subscriptions
        • Archdiocesan Directory
  • CR Radio
        • CR Radio
        • Protagonistas de Fe
  • News Tips
  • Subscribe
Justice Smith and David Alan Grier star in a scene from the movie "The American Society of Magical Negroes." The OSV News classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.(OSV News photoTobin Yelland/Focus Features)

Movie Review: ‘The American Society of Magical Negroes’

March 21, 2024
By Kurt Jensen
OSV News
Filed Under: Movie & Television Reviews

Share
Share on Facebook
Share
Share this
Pin
Pin this
Share
Share on LinkedIn

NEW YORK (OSV News) – An old movie trope is spun into a satiric fantasy with middling results in “The American Society of Magical Negroes” (Focus).

The phrase “Magical negro” originated decades ago as a derogatory term for film plots in which a Black character, usually male, served as the instructional and moral mentor, as a supporting character, to a white actor in the leading role.

The most famous of these was Will Smith’s caddie for Matt Damon in “The Legend of Bagger Vance” (2000). Others earning the regrettable tag include Morgan Freeman’s chauffeur in “Driving Miss Daisy” (1988) and Michael Clarke Duncan’s mystical inmate to Tom Hanks’ prison guard in “The Green Mile” (1999).

In his feature debut, writer-director Kobi Libii stretches this idea into the basis for a parable about race relations. Working from the premise that white people who feel threatened by African Americans are dangerous, a secret Black cabal has formed dedicated to keeping white people content, mostly by quickly addressing their emotional needs in the workplace.

As Roger (David Alan Grier), a veteran member of the titular organization, puts it to his latest recruit, Aren (Justice Smith), “The happier they are, the safer we are.” For her part, DeDe (Nicole Byer), the clique’s leader, maintains that its work is only effective when everyone involved aims for a single goal without making themselves prominent.

That becomes difficult for Aren after he’s dispatched to help Jason (Drew Tarver), a designer at the fictional social network Meetbox, advance his career with the right people skills, only to find himself falling in love with Jason’s associate and “work wife” Lizzie (An-Li Bogan). Thereupon, speaking of tropes, the story devolves into the familiar pattern of a romantic comedy triangle setup.

Meetbox, meanwhile, is struggling because of a flaw in its technology. Not only does the company’s facial recognition software have a problem recognizing people of color; it has excluded the entire nation of Ghana.

The requirements the society’s members must fulfill include maintaining an even temper at all times and so avoiding outbursts during which they might tell white people what they really think of their indolence and racism. Failing to stay on such an even keel can result in expulsion, but also, the script implies, might lead to violence as well.

Yet Libii seems reluctant to explore the more disturbing aspects of his theme. And the ugly implications of appeasing racism — as his imaginary band of activists would seem to be doing — go unaddressed.

Instead, Libii takes a consistently gentle approach with his cast of highly appealing actors, the underlying assumption being, it appears, that most problems can be solved simply by talking them over calmly. That’s a humane notion but it leaves his send-up feeling rather toothless.

The film contains mature themes, fleeting profanity and brief rough language. The OSV News classification is A-III — adults. The Motion Picture Association rating is PG-13 — parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

Read More Movie & TV Reviews

NBC’s Tom Llamas says Catholic education deepened his faith, pushed him to always do his best

Videogame Review: ‘Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’

superman

Movie Review: ‘Superman’

sorry baby

Movie Review: ‘Sorry, Baby’

Jurassic World Rebirth

Movie Review: ‘Jurassic World Rebirth’

Movie Review: ‘M3GAN 2.0’

Copyright © 2024 OSV News

Print Print

Share
Share on Facebook
Share
Share this
Pin
Pin this
Share
Share on LinkedIn

Primary Sidebar

Kurt Jensen

View all posts from this author

For the latest news delivered twice a week via email or text message, sign up to receive our free enewsletter.

| MOST POPULAR |

  • Hunt Valley parishioner recalls her former student – a future pope

  • Father Robert Wojsław dies at 52

  • Deacon Gary Elliott Dumer Jr., active in men’s ministry, dies

  • Quo Vadis attracts biggest crowd ever, promotes camaraderie and faith

  • NBC’s Tom Llamas says Catholic education deepened his faith, pushed him to always do his best

| CURRENT EDITION |

CR digital edition

| Vatican News |

A sower of light in the shadows

Filled with hope, Christians know cries of the innocent will be heard, pope says

Pope calls for ceasefire, dialogue, peace after church hit in Gaza

Stop the hatred; humanity is at stake, Pope Leo says in video message

New Catholic scouting patch honors Pope Leo XIV

| Catholic Review Radio |

CatholicReview · Catholic Review Radio

| Movie & Television Reviews |

NBC’s Tom Llamas says Catholic education deepened his faith, pushed him to always do his best

Videogame Review: ‘Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’

superman

Movie Review: ‘Superman’

sorry baby

Movie Review: ‘Sorry, Baby’

Jurassic World Rebirth

Movie Review: ‘Jurassic World Rebirth’

| En español |

‘No tengan miedo de hacer lo que El Señor quiere para nosotros’

Dios quiere ayudar a las personas a descubrir su valor y dignidad, dice el Papa

El ‘Padre Migrante’ nos relata su vida sirviendo a comunidades inmigrantes

El ‘Obispo Bruce’ forjó fuertes lazos con Baltimore en tiempos difíciles y tenía corazón de pastor

El Papa León comienza su pontificado pidiendo una ‘Iglesia unida’ en un mundo herido

Footer

Our Vision

Real Life. Real Faith. 

Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond.

Our Mission

Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform, teach, inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media.

Contact

Catholic Review
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-3150
mail@CatholicReview.org

 

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent

  • A sower of light in the shadows
  • When it comes to serving students with disabilities, how are Catholic schools doing?
  • Tolton ambassadors renew goal to promote, pray for famed Black priest’s canonization
  • Creation, human and divine
  • NBC’s Tom Llamas says Catholic education deepened his faith, pushed him to always do his best
  • Quo Vadis attracts biggest crowd ever, promotes camaraderie and faith
  • Three dead, Holy Family Gaza pastor injured after mid-morning Israeli attack
  • Proof of life for kidnapped Nigerian priest received by Alaska diocese where he served
  • Filled with hope, Christians know cries of the innocent will be heard, pope says

Search

Membership

Catholic Media Assocation

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2025 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

en Englishes Spanish
en en