A woman named Kit receives a mysterious invitation that would fulfill her childhood dreams.
IMDB Link: Unicorn Store (2019 film)
Director: Brie Larson
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Fantasy
Rating: 5/5 stars
I’m a long-time fan of Brie Larson, so when I heard she was directing her first movie and the word “unicorn” was in the title, I was already excited. And this movie, which just came out on Netflix, was better than I imagined.
The story is about a young woman named Kit who just got kicked out of art school. She’s an adult but she’s always loved bright colors, glitter, cute things and most of all, unicorns. Her art teacher wanted something more serious and abstract, like a stick in a box. So she ends up living in her parents’ basement, surrounded by all of her old childhood toys and artwork, trying to find a new direction for her life.
But then she gets a letter offering her a chance to get the one thing she’s always wanted. She enters a strange place called simply The Store, where she meets Samuel L. Jackson in his most fabulous role ever. (Seriously, I love his pink suit and the way he just wraps tinsel in his hair.) The Salesman promises her a unicorn.
Of course, Kit can’t just take home a unicorn that first day. She has to prove she’s ready and make changes in her life. The movie is about her journey to earn her unicorn. Now, I got worried about halfway that the unicorn might just be a metaphor for believing in herself or something, and I was ready to be very disappointed. But without giving away the ending, I’ll just say that I was happy. And I cried. And I had to go hug one of my unicorn stuffed animals after.
The whole movie is colorful and fun, with great fashion and art. It inspired creativity and has a strong message of being yourself no matter what anyone else thinks. It also says that we don’t have to grow up on society’s terms. To say that I related to Kit would be an understatement. (I noticed details like Kit had original Care Bears, not the new toys, and also Our Generation dolls in one scene. Missed opportunity to show one of several OG unicorn sets– I have them all!)
A little comparison. When she was little, Kit had an imaginary unicorn friend named Steve. Here’s a picture she drew:
When I was little, I had an imaginary unicorn friend named Alice. I don’t have any of my original pictures (my mom might have some lying around), but here is a ceramic unicorn I made. Some pieces have broken off over the years. (Of course she has wings. Alice lives on the far side of the Moon and flies to Earth at night under cover of darkness. My mom used to tell me stories about my adventures with Alice at bedtime, and she got quite an elaborate backstory.)
If you like unicorns and creativity, still feel like a child at heart, or just want to see Brie Larson and Samuel L. Jackson hanging out together again (after Captain Marvel), you should watch Unicorn Store!
