The Comic Shop
is sweet, with a talented cast behind it, but it does make some odd storytelling choices. The movie makes an effort to put forth a moral lesson and impart advice to aspiring creatives while telling a fun and goofy story. It also adds some drama into the mix, but the result is inconsistent with characters who make bizarre choices.
Mike (Desperate Housewives actor Jesse Metcalfe) owns a small local comic shop, but when a big-name franchise opens up nearby, his struggling store is on the verge of shutting down. In his darkest moments, Mike finds an unexpected source of inspiration in a young comic fan and artist named Brandon (Micah Giovanni, The Girl in the Pool). As the situation continues to grow more dire, Mike learns exactly what he needs to do to keep his dreams alive.
The Comic Shop Has Indie Charm With Incredible Talent
The Comic Shop has not only gathered together several actors who have made decently successful careers in TV and film, but it also delivers in terms of building connections between the cast. The film relies on the core characters to give this story meaning, and despite its flaws, it is genuinely sweet and enjoyable. From Mike’s pᴀssion for comics that sees him develop a connection with Brandon to Brandon’s struggles with his sports-obsessed father, the relationships make this movie what it is.
The film relies on the core cast of characters to give this story meaning, and despite the flaws, it is genuinely sweet and enjoyable.
Another key ingredient is the addition of Alex, played by MacGyver‘s Tristan Mays. Her wit, intelligence, and kindness make her a pivotal part of the story, and many of the big story beats come about because of her involvement. And yet, some of the character developments are a little odd and even inconsistent. When it appears that epiphanies have been reached, it’s frustrating to see the character take a step back in the following scene.
This can also be seen in the bad guys’ character arc. Chad (Trevor Einhorn) has the benefit of a wealthy father backing his comic book franchise endeavors. However, while the film establishes him as being unlikable, slimy, and arrogant, some moments with the character don’t feel like a natural progression or choice. And Mike’s friendship with Brandon is a wonderful narrative arc, but there are scenes that feel extremely goofy that do nothing more than add to the runtime.
The Comic Shop Loses Focus With Odd, Incoherent Story Beats
Throughout, the movie moves from being a comedy to a drama to a motivational moral story. While films can absolutely include multiple genres and follow several threads, they need to do so in a way that avoids the focus being too inconsistent. Unfortunately, The Comic Shop veers into this inconsistency, with the characters and several developing plots shifting, resulting in a challenging pace and lack of focus.
The Comic Shop veers into this inconsistency, with the characters and several developing plots shifting, resulting in a challenging pace and lack of focus.
However, the story does deliver a worthwhile message overall. It speaks directly to creatives and offers an inspiring narrative. It also benefits from the incredible onscreen talent. Whatever quirks exist in The Comic Shop, they are not so overwhelming as to make the film less enjoyable.
