History YMMV / StrangeMagic

* AlternateCharacterInterpretation:

* MisaimedMarketing: When compounded with the InvisibleAdvertising ''Strange Magic'' had to begin with, it explains in part the widely poor initial reception of the movie. The trailers made the film out to be a straightforward good vs. evil fantasy, not a wacky (if sincere) musical romcom.

** Potionless for Sunny and Dawn. [[spoiler: This is to reference that the two only fall in love without the use of a LovePotion.]] Sunny Day is also used, in reference to their names.
** Douche Bug for [[spoiler: Roland and the bug creature that appear in TheStinger.]]

* SoOkayItsAverage: A lot of people feel this way. The music is well-performed, but it may not be your thing, and probably by far the most well-received aspect of the plot, [[spoiler: Bog and Marianne's romance,]] doesn't actually start happening until two-thirds into the film.

* WhatTheHellCastingAgency: Kristin Chenoweth as the Sugar Plum Fairy. Fun fact, the voice acting featured in the movie is actually toned down from the performance she originally gave. Try wrapping your mind around that!

* {{Squick}}: While Roland has this reaction when he finds out [[spoiler:Marianne and the Bog King have fallen in love]], the scene where [[spoiler:Roland kisses a bug]] was designed to provoke this reaction from the audience.

* SpiritualAdaptation: Some people like to think of this as ''Shrek'' meets ''Ferngully'' meets ''Frozen''.

%%%* TastesLikeDiabetes: Love is an important and key theme in this film, romantic or otherwise...

* UnfortunateImplications: Some critics have pointed out having the implications of elf characters [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YhdcuoCD2Q a) being portrayed as second class citizens and b) having the ones who actually have lines voiced by African American actors.]] To say nothing of the fact that the Fairy King is horrified and faints when he realizes [[spoiler: Dawn wants to date Sunny.]] However, given that the audience is not supposed to be in sympathy with the Fairy King and how minor this aspect of the plot is (the royal family certainly doesn't think they are above participating in an elf festival), it is easy to overlook.
%% UnfortunateImplications require citation. ** On the other hand, the fact that the elf more or less was going to roofie the princess opens up a whole new swath of problems.

* UncannyValley: The fairies, who are meant to be beautiful, and the elves can creep people out since the animators tried to make them look more human. Ironically, the residents of the Dark Forest have been met quite positively with praise for their designs coming even from the movie's detractors.

* UglyCute: Once you get used to them, the goblin minions of the Bog King are kind of endearing.

* UnfortunateImplications: Some critics have pointed out having the implications of elf characters [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YhdcuoCD2Q a) being portrayed as second class citizens and b) having the ones who actually have lines voiced by African American actors.]] To say nothing of the fact that the Fairy King is horrified and faints when he realises [[spoiler: Dawn wants to date Sunny.]] However, given that the audience is not supposed to be in sympathy with the Fairy King and how minor this aspect of the plot is (the royal family certainly doesn't think they are above participating in an elf festival), it is easy to overlook.

* SignatureScene: Dawn singing "Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch" over and over again. It’s cited as the funniest part of the film.

* WhatAnIdiot: Roland cheating on Marianne right before their wedding in '' '''broad daylight.''' '' If he'd only waited a few hours, he'd have been king.

* FanDislikedExplanation: Even people who generally like the movie question the Bog King's backstory as [[spoiler:he tried to lovepotion the girl he was in love with, just like Ronald does. However, unlike Ronald, Bog comes to regret it]].

* CultClassic: Considering the small but loyal fanbase the movie has garnered, it's safe to say the film has earned this status. It's certainly gained attention later in its shelf life, as the curiosity factor seems to have contributed to the thousands, if not millions of views that clips of the musical numbers have racked up on Website/YouTube. When the ''Franchise/StarWars'' Sequel Trilogy began, a number of Rey/Kylo Ren {{shipp|ing}}ers took interest in the film (which pairs up Marianne with [[spoiler:the Bog King]]) for potential narrative clues about how the romance could happen.

* TheyCopyItNowItSucks: Some people have say the film is to similar to WesternAnimation/{{Epic}}, as both films are set in the Forest, they are sides and they don't get along, they focus on a female Protagonist who is going through some real life issues, and the Characters have to delivered a Magic Pod on the Moon Light.

* GeniusBonus: The [[DisneyAcidSequence crazy ending sequence]] of [[spoiler: Marianne and Bog [[TheBigDamnKiss kissing in mid-air]] while surrounded by fairies whose wings blur into a kaleidoscope effect]]. A kaleidoscope is one of the words for a group of butterflies. (Other words are a flock, a rabble, and a flutter.)

* SoOkayItsAverage: A lot of people felt this way. The music is well-performed, but it may not be your thing, and probably by far the most well-received aspect of the plot, [[spoiler: Bog and Marianne's romance,]] doesn't actually start happening until two-thirds into the film.

* NarmCharm:
** The people who love the movie often enjoy it for its unrepentant embracing of somewhat campy sweetness, the songs, and the romance between [[spoiler:Bog and Marianne]]. It doesn't hurt that the songs are *very* well performed.
** The movie's jukebox musical concept is cheesy, but sometimes you can’t help but laugh at how all the pop song covers sound compared to the originals, especially when Dawn annoys the Bog King with her singing.

* ViewerGenderConfusion:
** The lizard. Probably female, as Sunny calls her "Lizzy", but most people would not guess that from her first appearance.
**

* AssPull:
** Bog survives his castle being destroyed with only a small scratch. You’d expect him to have a sprained ankle or at least a stubbed toe.
** Dawn falling in love with Sunny. Up until then, she had shown no interest in him whatsoever.

* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodPlot:
** Even people who liked the film wished the movie would give more depth to the two kingdoms being divided and why they refuse to live in peace. It was more like a "stay on your side" kind of deal.
** Marianne and Bog’s romance is praised, but it doesn’t get much development or focus. It would have been nice to see how their romance would affect their respective kingdoms, but by the time they start falling for each other, there’s only thirty minutes left in the movie.

* SlowPacedBeginning: General consensus is that once Marianne and the Bog King meet, fight, and team up, the movie magic truly starts.

* SpiritualAdaptation: Some people like to think of this as ''Shrek'' meets ''Ferngully''.

* ViewerGenderConfusion: The lizard. Probably female, as Sunny calls her "Lizzy", but most people would not guess that from her first appearance.

* ArcFatigue: About two thirds of the film consist of the characters singing pop songs or wacky antics. We don’t get any real action or character development until the third act.

* NarmCharm: The people who love the movie often enjoy it for its unrepentant embracing of somewhat campy sweetness, the songs, and the romance between [[spoiler:Bog and Marianne]]. It doesn't hurt that the songs are *very* well performed.

** The one-sided and quickly forgotten attraction of Dawn to The Bog King is called "Pixiepine", due to the AddedAlliterativeAppeal and Bog commonly being called a [[FanNickname "pinecone"]] by fans.

* SoBadItsGood: The movie's jukebox musical concept is cheesy, but sometimes you can’t help but laugh at how the songs sound compared to the originals.

* DesignatedHero: Sunny is supposed to Dawn's one true love, but he alienates viewers by trying to use a love potion on her.

* EvilIsCool: The Bog King gets a lot of fan love for his intimidating design, JerkassWoobie motivations and impressive comedic timing.

** On the other hand, the fact that the elf more or less was going to roofie the princess opens up a whole new swath of problems.
* UnintentionallyUnsympathetic: Sunny - a quick scene of him helping Dawn with her crushes isn't enough to cover up that he feels entitled to have her just by virtue of being her best friend - entitled enough that he tries to slip her a love potion, and unlike Bog shows no regret about it.

* TheScrappy:
** King Dagda is usually singled out as the movie's most unlikeable character, considering how he openly wishes to have sons instead of daughters, berates Marianne for breaking up with Roland, despite the latter ''cheating on her'', and expresses FantasticRacism towards Sunny and the Bog King.
** Bog's mother, Griselda, is hated for being overly pushy towards her son to find love, while fully knowing that he doesn't have the highest opinion of romance.
** The Sugar Plum Fairy is disliked for being an annoying [[WesternAnimation/{{Aladdin}} Genie]] ripoff, who comes across as more obnoxious than funny and spouts exposition whenever she feels like it, essentially making her more a plot device than a character. Not even a beloved actress like Creator/KristinChenoweth could save this character from being hated.
** Sunny is disliked for being a huge simp towards Dawn and he tries to mess with her free will to get together with her. It doesn’t help that he doesn’t even seem to care that he caused the movie's conflict.

* AlternateCharacterInterpretation: Is the Sugarplum Fairy a {{Cloudcuckoolander}} because she's been imprisoned for so long or has she ''always'' been like that? [[TakeAThirdOption Or was she always like that and being imprisoned made her crazier?]]

** Sunny is disliked for being an annoying simp towards Dawn and tries to mess with her free will to get together with her. It doesn’t help that he doesn’t even seem to care that he caused the movie's conflict.

* SoBadItsGood: The movie's jukebox musical concept is cheesy, but sometimes you can’t help but laugh at how unrecognizable the songs sound compared to the originals.