The Impossible Mr. Madrigal (2015)

Oliver Madrigal (Daniel Martin Berkey) is one of a kind, a man of mystery, and he always has the answers–at least when it comes to other people’s problems. He owns his own shop, Madrigal’s Antiquarium, where nothing is impossible and no problem is too small, and those are words that he lives by. But there’s one thing that has always eluded him, and he’s not sure if he has the ability to obtain his lifelong prize. The Impossible Mr. Madrigal is the magical journey through life’s usual, and not so usual, struggles.

The Impossible Mr. Madrigal is fractured and unfinished–very literally, and there’s no way to beat around the bush, it hurts the film. The sound cuts in and out, editing is incomplete, and there are issues with the video as well. I have no idea why this film was never finished, and I don’t want to begin to speculate–but I believe that it has potential; and the majority of that potential lies within the narrative.

The narrative present in The Impossible Mr. Madrigal, at its core, is incredibly wholesome. It plays with the father-daughter dynamic, the importance of communication, and the struggle that can sometimes come from trying to be a good person. Through that wholesome narrative, viewers are able to connect with the characters and the story, drawing them into the film. I honestly think this is the most important aspect of the entire film–the fact that it contains a story so powerful and engaging. The Impossible Mr. Madrigal appeals to viewers' emotions in an incredibly subtle fashion throughout its entirety–and that’s a tall task. The subtly allows viewers the opportunity to dig deep, to remain focused, and ultimately learn something beautiful in the process.

Again, I believe that The Impossible Mr. Madrigal has potential; it has the ability to entertain through its story and a series of other things. The cinematography is simple, but it’s effective. It finds ways to appropriately tell this story, to keep viewers engaged, and manipulates things in a way that allows Berkey and the others to shine at just the right time.

I believe that there needs to be a shift in the dialogue–as it often finds itself being a little too silly to resonate with viewers in the most effective way. Comedy is a part of life, and even in the most difficult moments, humor can often weasel its way into the conversation. I wanted a tad more intensity in those decisive moments, in the ones that strengthen the characters and the narrative. The Impossible Mr. Madrigal almost uses comedy as a crutch from time to time–and while the intention is for it to support, it actually cripples.

The Impossible Mr. Madrigal is incredibly difficult to rate, and it’s difficult for me to judge the project as a whole–because that whole doesn’t truly exist. Based on what I’ve seen, again, the film has potential–and it’s a concept that, edited and shifted in the right way, reaches viewers and may just have the ability to have a profound effect on those who watch. It’s clear that Writer-Director Jared Hada Smith has the right content to springboard this story and film–but it does require some work. I’d love to see a finished product, to see how the story could have progressed and how the team behind this film could have made adjustments–because I think that this team has the ability to create something wonderful.

Written & Directed by Jared Hada Smith.

Starring Daniel Martin Berkey, Gys de Villiers, Natalie Pavelek, Evan Scott, etc.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐½/10