Rick Morin: Movie Review - Magic in the Moonlight

Starring: Colin Firth and Emma Stone
Written and directed by: Woody Allen

Chinese conjuror Wei Ling Soo is the most celebrated magician of his age, but few know that he is the stage persona of Stanley Crawford (Colin Firth) a grouchy and arrogant Englishman with a sky-high opinion of himself – he also enjoys exposing phoney spiritualists. He is persuaded by his life-long friend to go, incognito, on a mission to a stately Côte d'Azur mansion to debunk an alluring young clairvoyant called Sophie Baker (Emma Stone) who is staying there with her mother.  

From here the plot becomes fairly predictable; not many twists and turns on this  cinematic journey, but more like a gently curving coastal road. That in itself is not a bad thing – it’s an enjoyable ride rich in stunning scenery, beautiful mansions, fashions and automobiles, all interwoven with a very cool 1920’s jazz-era soundtrack. 

The only issue I have with Magic in the Moonlight sits with Colin Firth’s role as Stanley Crawford; he is not an especially likeable man yet we are expected to believe that Sophie is falling for him. A lack of on-screen chemistry between Firth and Stone does nothing to convince us there is even a hint of sexual tension between the characters they play.

Magic in the Moonlight is not Woody Allen’s best work but as a light romantic-comedy it’s thoroughly enjoyable