Silver Screen in a Red Envelope: A Diary of Time Wasted

I am going to preface this review with the disclosure that I lost my meds last week, haven't been able to refill the prescription, and am consequently watching films with my emotions rather than my logical criticism. Unicorn Store was written by Samantha McIntyre, directed by and starring Brie Larson, and full of a great cast of stars and character actors. The story follows the young woman Kit who has been kicked out of art school for metaphorically spreading Craft Herpes (glitter). She returns to her parents' basement and takes a temp job to assuage cultural expectations, but also responds to some really daringly designed invitations to check out The Store, where she is offered her very own unicorn, if she can meet the stringent requirements. The cast are really great, but an awe-filled mention must go to Christy McIrwin, who decorated the set, and Mirren Gordon-Crozier who designed some of the most incredible costumes. These things must be seen to be believed. This isn...

This delightful story, based on a book by John Bellairs which I have treasured from early childhood, lends itself well to film. I was inclined to like it before I had heard anything about its production, although I had all the usual trepidation when one hears that someone else has picked up your favorite glass figurine and is tossing it around like a beach ball. I loved it. I loved the steampunky vibes. I ADORED the cast's chemistry. The story remains largely true to the book. Lewis Barnavelt, newly orphaned, comes to live with his odd uncle, and discovers that he and his purple-obsessed neighbor practice real magic, and are concerned about a mysterious ticking noise (a clock, obviously) in the walls of the large mansion they inhabit. The story includes a few moral lessons for children and adults. For adults, the clear message is "give children information." Lewis's uncle's determination to hide the worrying truth from Lewis is a direct cause of the near-cata...