Unicorn City

I happened to come across "Unicorn City" by sheer random luck, and decided that I had to give it a go, especially since I have been playing D&D for some odd 28 years or so by now.

"Unicorn City" is fun for what it is, and I had to look past the whole LARP (live action role-playing) part, because I really don't grasp the concept of that. That being said, then the movie is entertaining and it does have a good story at heart. While it was no "Zero Charisma" or "Knights of Badassdom" it was its own style and held up its own right.

The story is essentially about Voss (played by Devin McGinn) who is kicked out of a local gaming group at the gaming store by their game master Shadowhawk (played by Jon Gries). In his quest to apply for an available at Warlocks of the Beach (yeah, the D&D fans will definitely get that pun) Voss sets out to start a utopia for gamers.

While "Unicorn City" is, what I would assume, a low budget movie, there is just something grander to the production value. The movie makers really pulled it off quite nicely with this movie. And the enthusiasm and levels of commitment by the actors and actresses also really helped add to that.

The people in the movie were doing great jobs with their given roles, and I was more than impressed by the fact that they had managed to get Jon Gries to be in the movie. He carried his role so nicely and really lifted up the movie quite a lot.

The costumes were fairly LARP-ish, but the whole centaur design that was just brilliant. I had such a laugh at that. Not because it was ridiculous, but because it was a stroke of amateurish genius.

If you are a gamer, be it pen & paper, LARP, online, etc. then you should give "Unicorn City" a view, because it is the kind of comedy that will put a genuine smile on your face.

A terrific romp into the world of LARPing and tabletop roleplaying. Not only does this give us a tongue-in-cheek view into the art of roleplaying itself, but into the minds and lives of gamers, with a great sense of humour about it.

The characters play off of each other with ease, as if they've been playing their characters for quite some time, and the comedic timing is wonderful.

Matt Mattson is gifted with physical comedy, and I really hope to see him in future films. Jaclyn Hales plays a very believable shy and awkward character, who draws the audience in, and Devin McGinn plays the lead role with such confidence, you truly feel like you're experiencing the story through him.

A great film for all ages, see it if you're able.

Even if you know nothing about tabletop games (Dungeons & Dragons, Illuminati, etc) or LARPing, you'll still love this movie. For us nerds, this movie is a multi-layered laugh out loud "thank you" card. For the casual movie-goer, it's a quirky trip through the looking glass of nerddom.

The story is what truly drives this film. This movie has heart at its core, and the actors embrace the heart of the material. Everyone involved appears to have been perfectly cast. The beautiful love-interest, the jerky brother, the evil antagonist, and even the bit players with just a few lines (or none at all).

Catch this movie when you can! This is the humor of Napooleon Dynamite the triumph of Little Miss Sunshine, and the heart of The Help. You have to try very hard NOT to enjoy this movie.

I once caught a glimpse of the back room of a game store, and saw those people back there. I giggled a little.

My giggling turned to frequent bursts of loud laughter when Unicorn City immersed me into this world that I had never experienced. I wasn't laughing at them, but along side them. I felt like I was one of them as these charming characters evolved throughout the story. I found myself sharing their hopes, cheering for them. I'm not about to run out and join some gaming group, but the time I spent watching them on the big screen was extremely enjoyable, funny & entertaining. There are several characters you will love by the time this movie is over.

I've heard it compared to Napoleon Dynamite. I like that movie, but I found Unicorn City to be more witty, a better story, and just plain better all around.

First off, this is a movie focusing on Voss, an unemployed tabletop gamer who has anger issues and a difficulty separating his real life from his gaming life. He is flanked by younger brother Clancy and good friend Marsha, both who are members of his guild. Requiring money to help pay his share of the rent to his older brother Seth, he interviews for a gaming director's job only to find that he needs to prove his leadership skills in order to stand out. This is his catalyst for creating a gamers utopia out in the countryside for him and his fellow gaming friends. At first life is great in this fantasy world he has created. Then his arch-nemesis ShadowHawk, shows up to tempt the citizens of Unicorn City and cause havoc in Voss's life. Voss must come to terms with his life and determine what is important and what is merely fantasy.

I know I sat down to watch this movie with some reservations. I had preconceived notions it might seem too removed for a non-gamer to fully appreciate most of the movie. I was also worried that there would be a lot of "fantasy" scenes to deviate from what was the true meat of the story. I was extremely surprised to find at the movie that this is quite possible the most I have laughed at a movie so far this year. Sure the gaming aspect was a catalyst for most of the actions and jokes but the real punchlines were everyday frustrations. This is what makes it possible for everyone to find a way to relate to the characters. Also you can really sense the love that they have towards their gaming life. Everyone needs something to escape from their daily lives and this is what they are passionate about.

Some thing else that I loved about the movie is, that even though it was an indie film, it didn't feel like one. The production value was definitely very high, and this goes back to my worry that there would be too many "fantasy" scenes which can easily eat up budget. The acting was very strong in the lead roles with a few of the supporting roles needing a little bit of work. There was definitely a sense of chemistry among the cast that seemed to fill in the cracks where there was a bit of light acting. Many indie's are also plagued by poor sound and an atrocious score. While the sound was nothing per se special, it was still strong and the score was excellent at some points and not affronting during the rest of the movie.

Basically the production team most certainly put their time and money in all the right spots. They focused on story first, and then fundamentals. More movies today need to follow their lead, and learn that in the long run I am going to appreciate this movie more because I don't need a expensive movie setup to get the full experience. I just need to sit back, relax and enjoy. I encourage you to do the same and try help bring it to your city. Click here—–>Unicorn City, to go to their Facebook page where I hope you will like their page and click the widget on the left requesting it to a local theater. Help us spread the word about this wonderful piece of art and share it with as many people as possible. When they ask what it is like, respond that it's Role Models meets Napoleon Dynamite, with a dash of the Community for spice.

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