Genie (2023)

★ 6.6 1h 33m 263 votes IMDb

Comedy Fantasy

Flora, a genie trapped for more than 2,000 years inside an antique jewelry box, is accidentally called to service by Bernard, whose life is unraveling around him.

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Cast

Melissa McCarthy as Flora Age 55 · Plainfield, Illinois, USA Melissa Ann McCarthy (born August 26, 1970) is an American actress, screenwriter, and producer. She has received numerous accolades, including two Primetime Emmy Awards and nominations for two Academy...

Paapa Essiedu as Bernard Bottle Age 35 · Southwark, London, England, UK Paapa Kwaakye Essiedu (/ˈpɑːpə ˌɛsiˈeɪduː/) (born 1990) is a British actor. He started his career in 2012 when he joined the Royal Shakespeare Company, acting in numerous productions, including The Me...

Denée Benton as Julie Bottle Age 34 · Orlando, Florida, USA Denée Ayana Benton (born December 31, 1991) is an American actress and singer. Benton is best known for her Tony-nominated performance as Natasha Rostova in the 2016 musical Natasha, Pierre, & The Gre...

Jordyn McIntosh as Eve Bottle Age 12 · Atlanta, Georgia, USA Jordyn McIntosh (born December 8, 2013) is an American actress..

Alan Cumming as Flaxman Age 61 · Aberfeldy, Perthshire, Scotland, UK Alan Cumming (born 27 January 1965) is a Scottish actor, writer and presenter. Known for his roles on stage and screen, he has received numerous accolades, including a BAFTA Award, two Emmy Awards, tw...

Director Sam Boyd

Cast Melissa McCarthy, Paapa Essiedu, Denée Benton, Jordyn McIntosh, Alan Cumming, Marc Maron, Tate Ellington, LaChanze, Ellen Cleghorne, Oberon K.A. Adjepong

r96sk 7/10 Dec 06, 2023

A good Christmas comedy, with added fantasy.

'Genie' is, admittedly, not a massively Christmassy film, it's more so set at Xmas rather than directly about the festive holiday. It still offers positive vibes in that regard, though. The story is told and paced well, I thought it'd be more generic than it is - it's not anything necessarily unique, but watchable it is. It has hints of 'Aladdin', obvs, and 'Bruce Almighty'.

Melissa McCarthy is well chosen for the titular role, I found her to be entertaining throughout. This is the first time I've seen Paapa Essiedu act and I'd saw his performance in this is solid, he gives enough. Luis Guzmán is the best of the rest, even via a relatively small showing.

Interesting that this is a remake of a 1991 television flick, which also had Richard Curtis behind the scenes and Alan Cumming onscreen; as Bernard in fact, so quite cool to see him return in this in a different role. I'll have to give that original a watch some day.

tmdb51616167 3/10 Sep 02, 2024

I found this film to be quite disappointing and unenjoyable. The storyline felt disjointed and poorly developed, leaving me unable to connect with or appreciate the movie. The attempt to center the plot around Melissa McCarthy as a genie or a character meant to be a focal point fell short, failing to capture the attention and interest of viewers.

The overall execution of the film, from writing to filming, was subpar and lacked the necessary elements to make it engaging. Melissa McCarthy's performance, while subjective, did not resonate with me in this particular movie. Her portrayal may be polarizing for audiences, with some finding her acting style appealing and others not.

Ultimately, this movie fell short in various aspects, failing to deliver a compelling storyline or engaging performances. It may be considered a miss for Melissa McCarthy fans and viewers looking for a captivating film experience. In my opinion, this is a movie that can be easily passed over and not worth adding to your watchlist.

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