THE INCREDIBLE BURT WONDERSTONE (2013)

Genre: Comedy
Director: Don Scardino
Cast: Steve Carell, Olivia Wilde, Jim Carrey, Jay Mohr, Zachary Gordon, Alan Arkin, Brad Garrett, James Gandolfini, Gillian Jacobs, Melissa Ordway, Steve Buscemi, David Copperfield, John Lewis
RunTime: 1 hr 40 mins
Rating: PG13 (Some Drug Reference & Coarse Language)
Released By: Warner Bros
Official Website: http://www.theincredibleburtwonderstone.com/index.html

Opening Day: 14 March 2013

Synopsis:  Superstar magicians Burt Wonderstone (Steve Carell) and Anton Marvelton (Steve Buscemi) have ruled the Las Vegas strip for years, raking in millions with illusions as big as Burt's growing ego. But lately the duo's greatest deception is their public friendship, while secretly they've grown to loathe each other. Facing cutthroat competition from guerilla street magician Steve Gray (Jim Carrey), whose cult followingsurges with each outrageous stunt, even their show looks stale. But there's still a chance Burt and Anton can save the act-both onstage and off-if Burt can get back in touch with what made him love magic in the first place.

Movie Review:

Ah, Jim Carreey, how we have missed you. The rubber faced comedian, who defined the Hollywood slapstick genre with movies like Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994), The Mask (1994) and Dumb and Dumber (1994) is back – and despite playing a supporting role in the Don Scardino directed film, effortlessly steals the show by being buff, blond and bonkers.

Carrey plays popular street magician Steve Gray who entertains with death defying stunts like lying on hot coal, not peeing for 12 days and pulling cards out of his face (Criss Angel, David Blaine, anyone?). No wonder the titular Burt Wonderstone is upset, considering how he has been a successful magic act in Las Vegas. Adding salt to the wound is the departure of his partner Anton Marvelton after a failed public performance. What will a fallen magician do to regain his pride?

The 100 minute comedy is easy to sit through, largely because of the cast’s hilariously endearing performances. Besides Carrey’s idiosyncratic portrayal as the street magician, Steve Carrell (The 40 Year Old Virgin, Seeking a Friend for the End of the World) takes on the role as the pompous Burt Wonderstone, together with the underrated Steve Buscemi (I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry, Grown Ups) as his likeable sidekick. Carrell does his usual stuff of looking stoned, while Buscemi again displays his versatility. Veteran Alan Arkin (Little Miss Sunshine, Argo) shows up as an elderly magician, while James Gandolfini (TV’s The Sopranos) plays a business minded hotel owner. Olivia Wilde Tron: Legacy, Cowboys & Aliens) is the obligatory female lead, who seems to be trying her best to fit in with the crowd.

As campy as the movie poster looks, the humour here is not as wicked as some wish it could have been. Scardino, who is known for directing the successful TV series 30 Rock, manages to infuse some heartwarming elements into John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein’s screenplay. Bits of nostalgia and family friendly jokes, coupled with the occasional offbeat physical humour will entertain and engage audiences from beginning to end. Watch out for the pre credits scene where Burt and Anton show you how one of the greatest tricks in magic history is pulled off. You’ll leave the cinema chuckling at its outrageousness and how ridiculous it is.

Given that this is a movie funded by a major studio, the need to appeal to the largest possible crowd must have been taken into consideration. Hence, there is more buddy laughs and family friendly fare than dark comedy. And the decision to cast Carrey has got to be the best decision the filmmakers made. The 51 year old actor lives up to his name as one of Hollywood’s most famed movie stars who can inject an unbelievably high amount of energy into his performances.

More importantly, the movie reminds you the good old days when you would stare in awe and wonderment at the simplest of magic performances. Just like how everything else in the world has become an almost unrecognisable state, some of the outlandishly preposterous magic illusions today cannot compare with a trick as simple as pulling a rabbit out of a top hat. 

Movie Rating:

(Family friendly fare it may be, the comedy caper still manages to entertain with its highly engaging antics) 

Review by John Li