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‘The American Society of Magical Negroes’ Review: A Racial Satire Wittier and More Scalding Than ‘American Fiction’
Kobi Libii's comedy is a racial satire more audacious than "American Fiction."
I think the hitch is that after Jeffrey Wright’s Monk sells his fake memoir of Black street life, there’s a strong urge to see him — and the film — take a certain vengeful joy in how the book’s popularity skewers the racism of clueless white people. “The American Society of Magical Negroes” has a wicked good time playing off those images — e.g., characters like Morgan Freeman’s devoted chauffeur in “Driving Miss Daisy” or Michael Clarke Duncan’s prisoner in “The Green Mile,” who exist for no real reason other than to help the white protagonist. The film assigns Aren to be the Magical Negro for Jason (Drew Tarver), a cocky bro of a software designer who works for a cool tech company called MeetBox, run by the guru-like Aussie bastard Mick (Rupert Friend).
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