Thelma the Unicorn REVIEW – Not Particularly Unique
A world in which humans and animals coexist, Thelma the Unicorn follows the donkey Thelma (Brittany Howard) who is aspires to be a superstar. However, no one gives her the attention she deserves as she’s a regular donkey. But, on one particular day, an array of events culminates with Thelma wearing the appearance of the unicorn. Thelma is aware that this could become her moment to shine. But her closest buddy Otis (Will Forte) is worried about her appearance and the unicorn-themed costume.
The tale of a common person who is disillusioned with the glitter and glamour of fame isn’t something new, particularly for children’s films. Through Thelma the Unicorn it’s hard not to feel a connection to movies like Alvin and the Chipmunks, Camp Rock, Jem and the Holograms as well as Hannah Montana: The Movie particularly since the film does not do anything different with its stale “be-yourself” message at all.
The message seems a little shallow given the lack of substance and how boring this film really is. The fact that the soundtrack doesn’t do much regardless of the many assertions from the actors who claim that Thelma sings “singing her truth” through her songs. Every song fails to stand out as anything other than forgettable despite Howard’s stellar vocal performances.
The majority of the time, Thelma the Unicorn’s humor is a bit flat. There are jokes that do work, however the majority of them seem to be characters who are at the highest level of obnoxious and hyperactive as could be. A few jokes evoke the vibe from some Illumination film like Despicable Me, Minions, or Sing.
This is made worse due to the fact that Illumination’s Sing is also heavily focused on the popularity of pop music and was set in the world of humanoid animals. The sole difference being that Thelma’s universe has human beings also.
It also seems outdated due to its humor. The film makes fun of the fact that pop stars tend to be more focused on their appearance and style rather than singing personal songs. It’s not my favorite part of this satire however pop artists such as Lady Gaga and Katy Perry have lost their relevance. The pop stars of the current decade, such as Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish along with Olivia Rodrigo became popular because of their relatability. Thelma the Unicorn’s comedy is outdated and boring, and highlights how sexist the movie is.
Fortunately, Thelma the Unicorn isn’t without warmth and heart. Thelma’s relationship with her fellow bandmates Otis along with Reggie (Jon Heder) is a great idea and they appear to be close friends. The most enjoyable parts of the film occur when Thelma is interacting with or both of them. It’s unfortunate that there’s only a few of these scenes because The three have a distinct connection and a the past with one another.
It’s also exciting how fast-paced Thelma the Unicorn is, since it’s an adaption from a series of picture books. The majority of adaptations to picture books have a difficult time stretching the plot of their small source material into the size of a feature film. This typically resulting in a movie which is slow and rambling. Thelma the Unicorn, however does not feel stretched, while staying close enough to its original material.
However, the positives do not suffice to prevent Thelma the Unicorn from being the kind of film that isn’t memorable. If the soundtrack had been more enjoyable it could have be a good choice for Brittany Howard fans, but at the moment, Thelma the Unicorn feels to be a filler film for the animation library of Netflix. It’s hard to imagine people who have seen this film remembering it not too long after watching it.
