Movie Review: 'Crystal Fairy' -- 2.5 stars

The minimalist road trip movie, "Crystal Fairy," stars Michael Cera as a controlling American named Jamie, who leads a free spirit named Crystal (Gaby Hoffman) and three brothers into the Chilean wilderness in search of a mescaline-filled cactus.

Improvised from an outline and shot on a handheld camera during 12 days, Sebastián Silva's flick has a freewheeling feel that's rare for a movie starring a significant movie star.

It subverts the classic drug movie form, resisting the easy lure of hallucinogenic humor for a sincere story about people trying to escape their rocky pasts.

Hoffman is the revelation here, infusing her character's over-the-top persona with palpable sadness. It's a masterful balancing act.

Still, "Crystal Fairy" is meandering, a slim movie that drifts toward its conclusion without much urgency.