Il castello invisible

7 Outcast middle schoolers find a gateway to a magical castle in the mirror. They are told that in the castle there is a hidden key to a room. If any of them are able to get into that room they will be granted a wish.

OK, there is a lot of nits to pick in this story. First, the kids are told of this magic, yet they don't really concern themselves with finding the key. Most of the story they just use the magical castle to hang out. They don't go on magical adventures in an enchanted castle, they just eat food and occasionally play some board games.

The 7 kids always feel like they are 3 steps behind the audience. They try to unravel pieces of the mystery that logically could have been figured out in a 5-minute conversation. And I get it, they are socially awkward middle schoolers, they wouldn't make the most logical decisions. But it doesn't make it any less frustrating.

But at the same time, the audience is given enough clues to solve the mystery for themselves. There is information hidden from us that makes it impossible to figure out where the key is.

With those problems in mind...why do I like this movie?

If you are suffering through the slice of life drama, and waiting for the movie to get good, stick around. The movie has an emotionally cathartic ending that makes the whole runtime worth the wait.

I work as a teacher, and the scenes with the middle school bullying are portrayed all too real. And as one who was also once an awkward middle schooler I can still empathize with the plight of our protagonists. They are problems that exist in schools today and will continue to exist as long as teenagers are all grouped together.

Despite the logic of the film not always adding up, the emotional beats strike a chord that resonates deep within me.