Nationwide, Father’s Day weekend 2011 will always be remembered as the span of time during which “Green Lantern” premiered in theaters. A handful of extremely entertained folks, however, will no doubt recall another movie that made its premiere that weekend (and no, those folks are not whoever paid money to see “Mr. Popper’s Penguins”).
As Wizard World East 2011 wrapped up its Saturday offerings, a crowd of curious moviegoers filed into a ballroom on the first floor of the convention’s downtown Philadelphia location, the Pennsylvania Convention Center. They were treated to the first screening of the not-yet-released gaming comedy “Unicorn City,” starring Jon Gries, perhaps best known as “Uncle Rico” from “Napoleon Dynamite.” The film’s producer, Adrian Lefler, and director, brother Bryan Lefler, preceded the screening with a brief synopsis on their respective backgrounds and the struggle involved with the project. Beginning as an updated version of “Don Quixote” and its theme of “imagination versus reality,” the “Unicorn City” script went through numerous rewrites and substantial development; additionally, the tanking economy managed to deter potential investors. Before long, the head of SSL company Digicert, Ken Bretschneider, committed one million dollars to the successful production of the film. Armed with positive reviews by cast, crew, and their respective friends and family members alike, the brothers Lefler headed east from their Salt Lake City, Utah base to Wizard World East in Philadelphia. It was there that “Unicorn City” was going to premiere to an audience not exclusively comprised of cast and crew members and/or their associates.
“Unicorn City” follows the life of Voss (Devin McGinn), a passionate gamer whose life both on and off the gaming tables constantly finds him rolling a one. Banished from the realm of a table game created by local comic book shop proprietor Shadow Hawk (Gries), the financial pressures of actuality are all that wait to greet him. When a managerial job offer hinges on his proven ability to lead, Voss calls upon his fellow gamers to shed the shackles of “IRL” (and Shadow Hawk’s tyranny) and live out their fantasies in a utopia dubbed “Unicorn City.” Telling only fellow gamer Marsha (Jaclyn Hales) that Unicorn City’s existence is solely for potential employment, he convinces the remainder of his followers to live as their characters would. Conflict presents itself in the form of Shadow Hawk’s attempts to take over the city, curious local police officers, and Marsha’s romantic crush on Voss that sadly is unnoticed. Is Voss able to conquer the demons plaguing him both within and outside Unicorn City’s borders? Or will his selfishness finally catch up with him, leaving him in worse shape than ever?
As someone who describes himself as “gamer lite,” I found myself thoroughly entertained by the film from beginning to end. The reaction of others in the room, not to mention the elongated applause during the end credits, was a clear indication that I was not alone in this sentiment. Everything from the writing to the casting to the overall production possessed the professionalism traditionally represented in major studio releases. It is safe to assume that even strict non-gamers will give “Unicorn City” their stamp of approval, thanks to its inclusion (and reliance) on such universal concepts as unrequited love, the longing for acceptance, and the frustration of life’s shortcomings. The comedy constantly hit the mark, the romantic scenes were heartfelt and realistic, and the struggles were entrancing.
The Lefler brothers expressed deep passion for their craft and a heartfelt appreciation for their first audience. With the success of independently-produced, gaming-related fare like “Gamers” and “The Last Lovecraft: Relic of Cthuhlu,” it is a very safe bet that gamers and non-gamers alike have not heard the last of Adrian and Bryan Lefler. Their tour will continue with the Wizard World folks at the company’s Chicago convention and will also screen at Gen Con in Indianapolis.
Visit the film’s official website as well as their Facebook page for additional information on the film, including ways to get it screened in your own city. If you are lucky enough to view it this year, use the power of social media and word of mouth to raise awareness; chances are that you will make up the same type of audience that, in 1994, wandered curiously into a grainy black-and-white feature named “Clerks.”
Inochiblog 