Movies of all genres often dip their toes into well-known, magical scenarios that are in many ways, comforting in their predictability. Some stories, however, fully embrace the idea of fantasy without removing themselves from the anchor of the everyday mundane elements of their settings.
While these movies remain rooted in their realistic settings, magical elements and a sense of mystery provide a sense of fantasy to these stories, often setting the stage for a critique of society. From challenging certain, long accepted tropes found in romantic comedies, to reinventing the cliche of second chances, movies that utilize magical realism often revive old stories and force audiences to pause and ponder.
13 Going On 30
An ill-fated wish triggers the events of 13 Going On 30 when Jenna Rink asks the universe not for a second chance at her past, but to fast forward to the future. Unhappy with her status as a social outcast among her junior high peers, Jenna believes that if she could just be 30, that everything would be better.
With a little bit of "wishing dust" from her best friend, Jenna is transported into adulthood, where she quickly learns that she didn't quite understand what she was asking for. The unexplained magic — very prevalent in magical realism — teaches Jenna, and the audience along with her, to slow down and not miss out on the blessings of the present.
17 Again
Magic works in the opposite direction 13 Going On 30 does in 17 Again. Full of regret, Mike O'Donnell is given a second chance at youth. Thrown back into his 17-year-old body, Mike attempts to relive his glory days. Like Jenna, however, his time spent within a reality he believes he wants opens his eyes to stark truths that he needed to see.
In the end, the magic in 17 Again shows Mike how important his family is to him. Transformed in far deeper ways than the physical, Mike is finally able to appreciate the life he has rather than the one he regrets missing out on.
Penelope
Set in what is very clearly a modern world, Penelope (starring Christina Ricci in one of her lesser-known movies) draws its audience in with its eloquent narrative as it tells the story of a rich "blue blood" family dealing with a fantastical problem. Born with the face of a pig, young Penelope has lived her entire life locked in her room, waiting for one of her "own kind to love [her] until death do they part" in order to break the curse placed on her.
When she connects with one young suitor, it initially appears as if this story will follow the typical cliche of true love saving the day. However, Penelope quickly veers from this path, sending the main character off on a journey of her own to discover the world around her. Her eventual acceptance of herself breaks both the family's curse and this age-old trope.
Just Like Heaven
The magic in Just Like Heaven stands in sharp contrast to its deeply logical and often cynical main characters. Doctor Elizabeth Masterson's relentless drive to earn a coveted position at the hospital where she works crashes to a halt quite literally when she's in a car accident. The mystery grows when she then appears to the new tenant of her apartment, David.
Believing she's a ghost, he attempts to get rid of her until, finally, the two are forced to work together in order to figure out why no one else can see her. In this creative twist on the enemies-to-lovers trope, David and Elizabeth grow close on their search for answers. Their opposite personalities challenge the other to grow and change and soon, the internal magic of the movie reveals they were meant to meet all along.
Groundhog Day
In a story reminiscent of Dicken's Christmas Carol, Groundhog Day centers around the self-centered character of Phil, a cynical weatherman from Pittsburg. When he is sent to Punxsutawney to report on whether or not the groundhog sees its shadow, and inexplicable magic forces him to relive the same day over and over.
Over an unknown span of time, Phil goes from denial of his circumstances to reveling in them, to finally learning and growing within the day he's been trapped in. While he never gets answers for how he was locked in this time loop, Phil comes out the other side a better man with better relationships.
Stranger Than Fiction
A magical connection triggers the events in Stranger Than Fiction. IRS auditor Harold Crick's orderly life falls to pieces when one morning, he hears a voice narrating his life. At first, he brushes this off as job-related stress and attempts to ignore it. But when that voice foretells his inevitable death, Crick has no choice but to seek answers.
With the help of a professor of literature, Crick is confronted with the horrible truth that as much as he does not want to die, he also hasn't been living. Crick's acceptance of the certainty of his eventual death destroys the fear that has long held him back. And, when he finally meets the narrator herself, his own journey gives the cynical writer the hope that she has long lost.
Big Fish
Tim Burton's Big Fish delves into the innate magic of storytelling. As Will Bloom sits at the bedside of his dying father, Edward Bloom, he wrestles with the idea that he knows nothing about the man. Edward spent his whole life telling tales Will grew to believe could not possibly be true.
Far too wonderful for his logic, Will has become convinced that his father spun not fantastical stories but ugly lies. As death approaches, Will delves into his father's past. Encountering witches, giants, and other fantastical individuals his father told him about, he learns that what he's been told isn't so distinctly far from the truth.
Yesterday
Yesterday is a realistic fantasy film that is inspired by The Beatles' music and cultural presence. In a magical "what if" scenario, struggling singer-songwriter Jack Malik finds himself in a world where everyone has forgotten The Beatles. As the only one who not only re them but also the only one who can play their songs, he sets out to fulfill his dream of being a famous musician.
Thrust into the spotlight, however, he is forced to choose between Ellie, his friend who ed him even in his darkest moments, and fame. Even more jarring for Malik is the feeling that he is living a lie and succeeding due to someone else's talent. As he reaches a point of desperation, his magical circumstances show him what he truly cares about, and lead him to a deeply fulfilling life.
Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World
Video game logic rules reign in this Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. In Edgar Wright's critically acclaimed adaptation of a graphic novel by Bryan Lee O'Malley, underachiever Scott Pilgrim is forced out of his ive habits when he falls for Ramona Flowers. As he pursues her, each of her "evil exes" challenges Scott to combat. With each fight, he not only learns more about Ramona but is confronted with his own toxic habits.
True victory only comes when Scott takes responsibility for the hurt he has caused and Ramona gains the strength to stand up to her ultimate evil ex. The strange magic of their world leads them both to freedom from the fears that have kept them trapped in equally vicious cycles of trauma.
Enchanted
A whimsical twist on Disney princess movies, Enchanted follows Giselle, a cartoon character sent to the real world by an evil queen. Though the magic that takes her away from her home of Andalasia is decidedly evil, the path it sets her on changes her life, and the lives of everyone she encounters, for the better.
Through this magical journey, Giselle grows into a more complex character, learning to voice unfamiliar emotions such as anger when she is confronted with the harsh realities of the real world. But as she changes, her steady kindness restores the cynical Robert's belief in true love, helps heal his relationship with his daughter, and even redeems Nathaniel, the evil queen's henchman.
