I tried, really I did. Like many parents, I have a deep unfaltering love for both the Star Wars saga and the Indiana Jones series. In my role as parent it is my prerogative, nay, my duty, to turn my daughter, who is eight, on to the best that life can offer, and that includes the work of the one and only George Lucas.
But you know what happened? My darling daughter fell asleep during Star Wars, played with Legos instead of paying attention to the narrative of Empire Strikes Back and didn’t once declare that she wanted to become an archeologist after watching Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. And I checked -- she is, indeed, genetically my daughter. But you know what Lucas film she will love? The family-friendly, fairy-laden love story Strange Magic, direct from mind of George Lucas himself. I watched the film in a state-of-the-art theater at Skywalker Ranch (with Lucas sitting a few rows back) along with director Gary Rydstom and actor-singer Elijah Kelley, who plays Sunny in the film. I was delighted, entertained and I learned a few things. Here are five things families should know about Strange Magic.
It was made with tween girls in mind but it’s really for everybody.
George Lucas initially made the film with the tween girl in mind (hence the whole girly fairy thing and the focus on the love story), but really it’s one of those films that’ll appeal to whole family. While the girls in the audience are being enchanted by the whimsical creatures up on the screen, the boys will enjoy the goblins and sword fights and their parents will be sucked into the narrative and its uplifting tale about finding love. “I think that people will connect (with the idea of) fighting for what you love,” said Kelley. “Everybody goes through a lot of trouble to be able to grasp the love of their life… love is so complicated. The fact that people can go to the ends of the Earth to capture something like that is, very, very inspirational.”
Strange Magic is really pretty.
This is not a film to see on the TV in the living room. This is a gorgeous (and strange – in a good way) journey made for the big screen. One of the most stunning aspects of the movie is the gorgeous fairy-butterfly hybrids. “It’s a whole different level of realism,” said Lucas. “(But) these guys all live in your backyard,” he said in reference to the fairies, buglike goblins and possum-ish imps that are featured in the film.
It’s a musical!
An animated musical about love starring a pair of spirited yet very different sisters? Yes, please. While on paper that might remind you of a little film called Frozen, that is where the comparisons end. This is a very different kind of musical. George Lucas’ challenge was to make a film with the songs creating the story, and in this one, it’s all about love songs. The soundtrack is eclectic, borrowing tunes from the last 60 years from Mickey & Sylvia’s “Love Is Strange” to Bob Marley’s “Three Little Birds” to Beyonce’s “Gotcha Looking So Crazy Right Now,” and of course, ELO’s “Strange Magic.” That “something for everyone” adage really rings true in the soundtrack, not just the story.
It has a great cast:
When you have the name George Lucas behind the project, you can pretty much get who you want, noted Rydstrom. “Casting is pretty key for a movie like this and as George said, you have to find people who both act and sing.”
Alan Cumming (the buglike Bog King), Evan Rachel Wood (the fairy Marianne) and Sam Palladio (the pretty boy Roland) are all amazing as actors as well as singers. And don’t forget Kristin Chenoweth (the ethereal Sugar Plum Fairy). “I was in the room with her and when she hit some of those high notes in “Love Is Strange,” it was like my glasses broke,” said Rydstrom. “It was amazing “
When it comes down to it – the movie is ALL about love:
The big message in the film is: “Everyone deserves to be loved.” This is true no matter how old you are, Lucas said, noting that sometimes love comes from the most unexpected places. “The story of the power of true love (has) been around for thousands of years, but it can always be retold.” But it hasn’t ever been retold like this; Strange Magic is truly unique.
Sunny Chanel is a regular contributor to Fandango Family, Babble.com, Mom.me, Disney Imagicademy and Mommy Nearest as well as her own whimsical site Wonder and Company. When she isn't writing, watching movies or doing crafts, she is playing dress up with her eight-year-old daughter.
