The American Society of Magical Negroes Parent Guide

When a white man erroneously assumes that Aren (Justice Smith) is robbing a white woman, the young Black man is terrified, until Barber (Aaron Coleman) comes to his rescue. A bit of unobtrusive magic here, some genial conversation there, and the tricky situation quickly resolves. This is only the beginning of the evening’s surprises before Barber whisks Aren off to the secret headquarters of The American Society of Magical Negroes.

Aren is astonished to learn that the society exists to keep white people calm and comfortable. After all, Barber explains that “The most dangerous animal in the world is an uncomfortable white man…For some of us, the last thing we see on this earth is uncomfortable white people. The happier they are, the safer we are.” Wielding their collective magic, members of the society are assigned white “clients” with a mission to keep them happy and serene.

Aren soon finds himself shadowing Jason (Drew Tarver) a clueless white digital designer who is anxious about his career goals and attracted to his boss, Lizzie (An-Li Bogan). Aren has no difficulty boosting Jason’s career confidence, but trouble brews when he also finds himself drawn to the intelligent, charming young woman. As he becomes increasingly aware of the toll taken by casual racism and misogyny, Aren starts to question his mission…

I wish I enjoyed this movie as much as I appreciated its concept. There is room for a biting satire based on this the clever premise, but that’s not what The American Society for Magical Negroes delivers. The movie feels as aimless as its protagonist, wandering unmoored through the plot. Aren is confused and indecisive, as is the script, which can’t decide if it wants to be a satire, a drama, or a limp romantic comedy. Some of the movie’s lines deliver a real punch, such as when Aren says, “I live in a country that makes me feel like it wants me dead.” But instead of delving deeper, the script abruptly veers off into rom-com territory. Just another lost opportunity in a movie filled with them.

On the bright side, that cautious attitude extends to the script’s negative content. There are about two dozen profanities, a few scenes of social drinking, some mentions of racial violence, and a little on-screen kissing. The PG-13 rating is fair, and this is a movie that could get teenagers of all races thinking about racism, human dignity, and treating others with respect. If that happens, then The American Society of Magical Negroes will have drawn a small victory out of its lackluster release.