Crystal Fairy & The Magical Cactus

IFC Films | Release Date: July 12, 2013

5.8	USER SCORE Mixed or average reviews based on 26 Ratings

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ambenderDec 28, 2013

The movie is slight to a fault, but it's a kick to see Michael Cera finally cut loose a bit. It is to the film's credit that although almost nothing happens, the actors are never less than engaging.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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TVJerryAug 18, 2013

Michael Cera's movie characters are typically awkard nebbish types, so he must have been thrilled to play this obnoxious, pushy boor. He teams up with 3 brothers in Chile for a road trip (literally) to ingest mescaline. Along they way theyMichael Cera's movie characters are typically awkard nebbish types, so he must have been thrilled to play this obnoxious, pushy boor. He teams up with 3 brothers in Chile for a road trip (literally) to ingest mescaline. Along they way they encounter a free spirit named Crystal Fairy (Gabby Hoffmann) and her name sums up her hippie/new age personality. The conflict between these 2 lead characters is pretty much all there is for plot. It's shot in a sloppy, handheld style with aimless direction. Basically, it's a showcase for Cera to act an … Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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GodOfWarJul 13, 2013

This is a comedy-drama masterpiece. This is with Pacific Rim the best movie of 2013 so far.Michael Cera is so great in this one and everyone else too.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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zperry-20Aug 15, 2014

Michael Cera executed the role poorly , as always. There is close to no character development and the film will just be forgotten like all other drug comedies.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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DCEdmondsNov 13, 2014

"Crystal Fairy and the Magical Cactus" 10 Scale Rating: 1.5 (Terrible) ...

The Good: Nothing, really. Well, OK ... Michael Cera stepping out of his comfort zone was good to see. The Bad: Pretty much everything. Typically a group of"Crystal Fairy and the Magical Cactus" 10 Scale Rating: 1.5 (Terrible) ...

The Good: Nothing, really. Well, OK ... Michael Cera stepping out of his comfort zone was good to see.

The Bad: Pretty much everything. Typically a group of people wandering through the desert in a drug induced stupor is an entertaining premise ... if it's funny. Too stupid for words and chock full of rambling dialogue that feels like it was made up on the fly, "Crystal Fairy" fails at every level in trying to become a cult classic. "Fear and Loathing" it's not.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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Tone01Dec 26, 2014

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. "Crystal Fairy" is a road trip taken by two of the ugliest Americans to ever trod a cinematic foreign country. Their goal: Mescaline and spiritual discovery – or closer to the truth, themselves.

Comedy star Michael Cera, Jamie, showcases trademark Allenesque neuroses, whining and flat affect in a role based on the experiences of Director Sebastián Silva. The reversal is Silva was a native while Cera is an interloper of whom it is asked, "Did you travel to (beautiful) Chile just for the San Pedro (the cactus harvested for Mescaline)?" The answer is a resounding yes, and there is nothing he won't do to get it, including stealing cactus from a lonely, mentally challenged woman.

Gaby Hoffman, Crystal Fairy, is a pontificating Sixties throwback who wanders about in the nude and chastises people about their food choices (while drinking Coke). She's also an unwanted (by Cera) barnacle clinging to the trip which includes three native brothers. (The scenes of the brothers trying to look like they're not gawking at the nude Hoffman in a hotel room are hilarious.)

Cera's performance is admirable but his usual one-note. Hoffman easily outshines him.

The improvised dialogue adds immediacy and verisimilitude while masking the bitter subtext; Neo-Colonialism and Financial Imperialism. Like "Tony Manero" (a film crediting thanks to Silva), United States' influence and interference lightly greases this story's wheels.

Unlike "Tony Manero," "Crystal Fairy" adds character arcs: Cera departs his obnoxious head to find self-acceptance and a heart recognizing Fairy's inner beauty; Fairy discovers her healing powers cannot reanimate a dead animal and the world just might not end in 2012. She also finds acceptance of the sexual abuse leading her to a life as a strap-on wearing Dominatrix.

The Chilean brothers are antithetical to the Gringos. Their portrayals are a given as they're natives of the country of the film's origin, but their counterpoint makes Cera and Hoffman all the more ridiculous.

To say "Crystal Fairy" is a comedy (stoner or otherwise), twisted love story or angry gringo-invective is to sell the film short. This is a sweet, abstract film with multiple layers and a few very fine moments. The film plants itself in the psyche – much like Mescaline. Giving in to the film's charms results in a feeling you actually tripped along.

Multiple viewings may help in understanding off-the-cuff lines delivered sotto voce. And the abrupt, unsatisfying ending is a shortcoming. There is a movement to cut to black and end films with ambiguity. To feed post-viewing conversation and debate? Whether lazy, uninspired, unmotivated or ill-advised, an ambiguous ending cheats the audience. ("The Birds" notwithstanding.)

A welcome respite to noisy, tent-pole, superhero entertainment, joining this troupe on the road is definitely worth the ninety minute trip – straight or high.… Expand

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