Crystal Fairy and the Magical Cactus

2013 drug dramedy

Rating: 15/20

Plot: Michael Cera, a triad of Chilean brothers, and the titular hippie go in search of the titular cactus.

According to imdb.com, this movie is called Crystal Fairy and the Magical Cactus and 2012, but that doesn't seem right at all. I know some people aren't keen on Michael Cera, but I really like him in general and love him here. He sort of plays the character he always plays, but contorts a bit and plays a really unlikable and jerky awkward guy instead of a likable awkward guy. And let me tell you--if you've ever wanted to see a shirtless Michael Cera running in slow motion, this is the movie for you. Gaby Hoffmann gives a performance that a lot of people will call "brave" because she's naked for extended periods of time during two scenes and let her armpit hair grow out for the role. Her armpits are method acting. She's good though, and she absolutely nails her big climactic emotional moment which is a scene that could have turned into a disaster. And three actual brothers--the Silva brothers--play the brothers (at least I think they were supposed to be brothers), and their inability to fully communicate with the two American characters is funny at times. This floats along--or maybe it crawls, sort of in a haze--and has an improvised feel, and although that sort of thing is done quite a bit in independent movies, it still manages to feel fresh here. Cool little movie, one that almost made me want to drink a boiled cactus with a naked hippie.

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