L'incredibile 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.

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.

Basically, this movie - about two warring magicians - got a lot of flack at the box office and was almost branded 'a flop.' Yes, it's no masterpiece. It's not even a comedy masterpiece. Perhaps people expected more because of the talent on display. They may have a point - the film does have a stellar cast and maybe it should have been better, or funnier than it actually is. However, just because it's no classic, doesn't mean that it's not worth watching.

It's light-hearted and easy-going. The gags - while occasionally predictable - are still amusing. You may not have many 'belly laughs' but, if you're in the mood for something that isn't very serious and quite frothy, the film should maintain a little smile on your face all the way through.

You may get a little more out of it if you're a fan of any or all of the actors. Steve Carell and Jim Carrey are top-billed and for a reason - they play their (kind of stupid) parts very well.

My only gripe is that it ran for about ten minutes too long in my opinion. It probably could have been trimmed somewhere in the middle to make it just that little bit tighter. Still fun though.

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'THE INCREDIBLE BURT WONDERSTONE': Three Stars (Out of Five)

A movie with a cast like this (Steve Carell, Jim Carrey, Steve Buscemi, Alan Arkin, Olivia Wilde and James Gandolfini) can't be all bad and I'm a little puzzled at how poorly it's done at the box office. I think it's just the premise; no one is eager to see a movie about competitive stage magicians and I wasn't either (that's why I wasn't entirely sold by the previews despite the cast as well). The reviews for the film have been mediocre to negative too so I did go into it with somewhat low expectations. In my opinion that's the best way to see any movie because if it doesn't completely blow you're happy. This movie doesn't completely blow. It's funny and the cast all gives decent to good performances. It's not one of the most well written or best directed comedies in recent years but it's decent. Carell, Carrey and the rest of the cast have all done much better work but this isn't too big of a blemish for any of their resumes.

The film stars Carell and Buscemi as popular magicians, Burt Wonderstone and Anton Marvelton, who've had a sold-out stage act on the Las Vegas Strip for years. They met as children and learned magic together but in recent years they've grown apart. As Burt's ego has only gotten bigger and bigger he's learned to take Anton for granted and is only interested in getting laid. Their act has grown old and unoriginal as a result of their lack of motivation and passion. They've also now been threatened by a new street magician (Carrey) who's grown in popularity as theirs has diminished. An old idol (Arkin) and their mistreated assistant (Wilde) do what they can to help bring back the duo's magic and friendship.

The film was directed by Don Scardino (a veteran TV director) and written by Jonathan M. Goldstein, John Francis Daley, Chad Kultgen and Tyler Mitchell. With all those writers you'd think they could have came up with a better script but usually the more writers there are the poorer the writing tends to be in Hollywood. Scardino isn't the most experienced director to deliver the power to the punch lines these jokes need either. Still the movie isn't amateurish and like I said the acting is all good. Carell is always a great leading man, Buscemi is good in any role he's put in and it's nice to see Carrey trying a supporting turn as the movie's dislikeable villain. He's in great shape for the role and gives it his all (and I think he's probably paying Carell back for all the supporting turns he did in Carey's movies earlier in his career). The movie is definitely not bad, it's funny, and while the laugh out loud jokes might be a little few and far between the film is still always mildly amusing in the least.

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