The Incredible Burt Wonderstone

This film is about two long time magician partners who perform in Las Vegas. Their show goes stale and they have to find ways to reinvent themselves.

"The Incredible Burt Wonderstone" has a simple plot, which tells the standard tale of two magicians who team up from childhood, cooperate, fall out and make up. The story is too plain and predictable, and it drags on a bit long. It takes half an hour of screen time before the idea of reinvention comes up, which is too long. The friendship subplot is not so touching and affecting either. The only interesting character is Jim Carrey as an unconventional magician with disturbing acts. I am impressed by how he could turn one eye to one side and the other eye is looking ahead. Overall, "The Incredible Burt Wonderstone" is a mediocre and a rather forgettable comedy.

I heard for at least 9 years about THE INCREDIBLE BURT WONDERSTONE because when it was released back in 2013 James Gandolfini tragically died at the age of 51, and instead of being released in theaters it has been aired straight to TV in 2015 but I avoided it because of the mixed reputation it has achieved. But, last September I finally dared to sit through it and, while I didn't loved it, it had some funny moments in between that didn't made me feel guilty of watching it.

The story begins in 1982 when Albert Weinsenstein is harassed by bullies and his mom gives him a magic trick set by magician Rance Holloway for birthday. Skip a few years later and Albert (Steve Carell) has changed his name to Burt Wonderstone and attracts the attention of Anton Marvelton (Steve Buscemi): soon they practice magic tricks together and form a team and perform often at Bally's hotel in Las Vegas. But after a while Burt has became too overconfident and egocentric and Anton is sick of it after also having various female assistants leaving their shows. Burt and Anton casually see street magician Steve Gray's (Jim Carrey) dangerous act and they have the ispiration for closing themselves in a glass cage and hung over Las Vegas Strip, but after just a few minutes they panicky. Soon Burt falls broke and ends up working as an entertainer at an assisted living facility for former entertainers and meets Holloway (Alan Arkin), and after a while Burt and Anton patch things up and use the trick for making the audience disappear... and they succedd.

I had mixed feelings on the acting. Steve Buscemi was great as usual, but Steve Carell looked a bit too self-centered and even annoyed me in some moments. Jim Carrey, despite I am a fan, I thought that his performance was a bit too much even for his standards. Arkin, Gandolfini and the others were ok, nothing to rave about. There were some funny moments and some that fell flat, and it even looked a bit too long.

Overall, a mixed bag. It has some pros and some cons and if there was more of the pros it would have been better. As it is, it's just entertaining with a few laugh out loud moments here and there but nothing more.

We're too harsh on comedy titles, we want them to be perfect and epic. It is okay for comedies to be silly, stupid and out there at times. We never hold the same standard for thrillers we watch the same formula plots over and over again and still be okay with it. But with comedies oh no why did they do that , its stupid. As apposed to the 1 min hacker of pentagon in every film.

It's a genuinely funny the story of two life long friends and magicians who share a magical act and are threatened by the modern chris angelisc magician played by Jim Carrey. I cannot think of another person playing the role.

A story of a long lost love for magic dusted by fame and money over the years. Steve carrel is his awkward a bit toned down 'The Office' self trying to get back on his feet and getting a little help along the way.

A great Sunday watch with the family.

The problem with most reviews today is that people have lost their innocence and playfulness the world once new.

The days when the family would go to the cinema together and buy popcorn and coke and it was a rare treat for all seem to have been replaced with an over critical and harsh assessment of anything!! The film itself deals with a similar subject when Burt Wonderstone loses his ability to realise that to somebody, even an old trick is a new one that can bring wonderment to even the oldest audience.

Lets stop and look at the film for what it is! Its not supposed to be a drama or intense film like The Green Mile. Its a innocent throw back to the era of stage magicians when rabbits from hats would trigger gasps of amazement by crossed legged kids watching in the front row.

The introduction of a 'Criss Angelesque' character was to show the shift in social attitudes in regards to what we consider entertainment is (and jim carrey does it hysterically).

Yes the story is not meant to be compared to anything of a serious nature but does have some underlying content that should make us think a little.

Today when films like 'Kickass' and 'Jackass' seem to warrant high ratings and are viewed by kids its sad to see such a fun, innocent and laughable film getting a bad rap.

In Australia at my cinema everyone was in hysterics (and this was a late session 1/4 full).

If you liked Jerry Lewis and can still laugh ... you'll love it if you enjoyed the fun of films like back to the future ... you will love it If hearing a 13 year old girl in kickass say "Suck my &*#$" was funny to you... then you missed the boat on what funny really is.

Take a chance be amazed and let yourself laugh like no one is around... let it out and let the joy of "Burt WOnderstone" lighten you heart for just a couple of hours.

As many people here often say, "not quite sure why this movie gets the rating it currently has". This is a good movie. Great movie, no, but good and honestly funny movie? Yes! Steve Carell is one of Hollywood's more consistent actors and funny men. Jim Carrey is as well. It was interesting to see two comedians with completely different approaches to comedy on the same screen. It works. Olivia Wilde does a wonderful job. But what's special about this movie is the writing and how truly funny it is at times. I had several 'laugh out loud' moments and for me, a seasoned comedy movie aficionado, that's saying a lot. Maybe the movie just spoke to me at some level, but I still think it's worth a watch. Maybe it'll speak to you too.