The Incredible Burt Wonderstone
Review by Nick Devin
A movie with a headliner cast of comedic
greats such as Steve Carell, Steve Buscemi and Jim Carrey would be music to the
ears of comedy lovers right? Add in crazy magic tricks and it would sound even better? Well it all looks good on paper, but for the
Incredible Burt Wonderstone, a few laughs here and there doesn't suffice for
the talent that is on the screen.
The movie follows the life of Burt
Wonderstone (Carell) and his best friend Anton Marvelton (Buscemi) who headline
with their magic show in a top class casino in Las Vegas. We first meet the two magicians as kids where
Burt has a sad life where he is constantly bullied by the older kids at
school. His life at home isn't great
either with a neglecting mother who isn't there on his birthday. When Burt receives a ‘Rance Holloway Magic Kit’
for his birthday, he is instantly attached to magic and befriends another
bullied kid; Anton. Through their skills
in magic, they were able to fight off the bullies as well as find the
friendship they needed in their life.
This is essentially the theme to the movie that occurs throughout the
film, it is a story about friendship.
The story jumps to when the two magicians
are adults and performing each night in an extravagant theatre named after them
in a Las Vegas casino. Burt’s ego has gotten
the better of him and doesn't do it for the magic anymore. It has become more about the money and the
women, and the friendship between Burt and Anton has faded due his ego. The magic tricks that are performed within
the movie are well shot, and at times very over the top and stretched to their
extremes. It is here that the comedy is
at its best for the due. The jokes that
Steve Carell and Steve Buscemi have scripted for them are rarely funny, and if
it wasn't for their actions, very few laughs would be heard.
Jim Carrey enters the movie as a street
performing, Steve Grey, who ultimately becomes Burt and Anton’s competition as
his stunts are even more over the top and are hardly considered magic. You can see what the movie is trying to
achieve by putting a character like Steve Grey in the film. The art of magic has been lost and what is
seen around the world in famous magicians lately is more about a test of their
brute strength or their pain capacity, and less about the illusion of magic
itself. This is the director’s stab on
society with a Siegfried and Roy vs. Chris Angel juxtaposition.
The friendship between Burt and Anton ends
after a dramatic stunt to get their fame back and the two magicians go their separate
ways. Burt struggles the most through
this time as he battles his ego when he is exposed to the real world. It is here where the movie picks up and the
story starts to flow. With having nowhere
to go, Burt attempts to befriend his ex- stage assistant Jane (Olivia
Wilde). Jane has a real passion for
magic and had the goal to become a magician herself. The relationship between Burt and the minor
characters within the movie is much more interesting to watch and has more
laughs than his relationship with the major characters.
With Burt out of work, he hits a new low
when he starts to perform for the elderly in a nursing home. While entertaining in the nursing home, he
meets his magician idol Rance Holloway played by Alan Arkin. Rance has been out of the business for a long
time and doesn't want anything to do with magic anymore, until Burt inspires
him to practice tricks again. It is here
that Burt realises how he got his passion for magic, and his ego begins to
subside. Alan Arkin is by far the best
actor on the screen and his character is by far the funniest. Whatever Alan Arkin appears in, the movie
instantly becomes better as he brings a certain charm and humour to the
screen.
With Burt’s ego gone and his passion for
magic stronger than ever, he reunites with Anton and battles Steve Grey in a
magic competition to win an entertaining spot in a new casino opening in Vegas. The theme of friendship comes back again in
the movie as Burt and Anton work together.
The plot of the story is very predictable,
and Jim Carey’s over the top performance doesn’t add anything to the
movie. If it wasn't for the relationship
built through with the minor characters, and without the appearance of Alan
Arkin, the movie would have been much worse.
Out of the main characters, Steve Caroll
would have to be the funniest on screen as the others don’t really deliver much
humour. It is hard to see Steve Buscemi as
a comedian again after watching him play a serious character in HBO’s Boardwalk
Empire. I think his comedy days are over
and he should focus on his drama more.
His performance was disappointing within the movie, and isn't at the
same standard as the newer comedians of this generation.
Although there are flaws within the movie,
it is noticeable that there are good intentions with the film. The theme of friendship is relatable for the
audience which makes the characters more grounded. With only a handful of good jokes, and a plot
that takes too long to actually unravel, The Incredible Burt Wonderstone will
not be listed as one of the best comedies for 2013.
2.5 out of 5
+ A few laughs and relatable theme
+ Alan Arkin
-Predictable
-Waste of good talent
-Plot takes too long to develop
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