Movie Review: 'Crystal Fairy' -- 2.5 stars
Crystal Fairy
2.5 stars
Directed by Sebastián Silva
Starring Michael Cera, Gaby Hoffman
Not Rated
Playing at IFC Center
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.
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