Starring: Michael Cera, Gaby Hoffman
Director: Sebastian Silva
Rated:R
It’s nice to see Michael Cera not play the nerdy awkward character for once. This time switching out the uncomfortable in his own skin character he has grown accustomed to portraying, into a version of the “Ugly American”. As Jamie an American abroad in Chile, Cera is overly enthusiastic, hell bent on experiencing a mescaline trip by acquiring a San Pedro cactus from Chilean locals on the way to a beach party. He takes what should be a fun trip with friends and turns it into an obnoxious quest.
Cera is able to deliver some compelling comedic moments, most compelling are his interactions with the Chilean locals, from attending a house party, to bumping into a couple of trannies walking on the street bringing them back to his apartment to cook them rice, to his obsession with acquiring the San Pedro cactus. For some reason the locals don’t understand why the anxious American wants to buy their front yard landscape.
Opposite Cera is Gaby Hoffman as the very earthly Crystal Fairy. If you told me that the little girl from Uncle Buck and Field of Dreams would be all grown up and spend the majority of a film about a road trip and cactus fully nude, I would have thought it more possible for “Moonlight Graham” to keep his dream of baseball and let little Gaby choke to death on a hot dog. Hoffman delivers a brave performance as the very, very natural Crystal Fairy, who at one point is rightfully called hairy fairy for her complete lack of grooming habits.
Cera and Hoffman deliver a finely acted slice of life film, harkening back to an era reminiscent of 70′s drug films. There is a realness that resonates with Crystal Fairy that you won’t find in most American summer films. Most likely stemming from the fact that the film was shot fast and loose in just 12 days, this is a truly independent film. You feel like you’re part of the group leading up to the San Pedro trip.
With moments of comedy intermixed within the drama, Crystal Fairy is an irreverent magical cactus fueled Chilean trip to the beach.
Grade- 82
