Steve Carell pitted against Jim Carrey
promises an exciting range of comedic possibilities. Especially when they're
thrown into the world of entertainment. As egotistic magicians.
Childhood best
friends Burt Wonderstone (Steve Carell) and Anton Marvelton (Steve
Buscemi) are Las Vegas Strip's superstar magicians, with consistent sold-out
shows for years. But the sudden arrival of “modern” street magician Steve Gray (Jim Carrey),
who performs not what you’d call magic but gross masochistic stunts filmed for
his popular webisodes, quickly categorizes the tandem of Burt and Anton as
old-fashioned and outdated, eventually ruining their shining career. Will Burt be able to
make a comeback and re-establish himself as the Incredible Burt Wonderstone?
Directed by Don Scardino (30 Rock), The
Incredible Burt Wonderstone starts off as actually funny and engaging, with Steve Carell
bringing real comedy to his perma-tanned, self-absorbed, chauvinistic, and burned-out character. Steve Buscemi, on the other hand, has been relegated and established as an unimportant
sidekick. Jim Carrey’s parody of David Blaine
and Criss Angel, was, initially, a riot; a hilarious madman with extreme endurance
acts that would make you sick. Do not expect much magical duel between Carell and Carrey, though, as the movie almost concentrated on Burt’s drama alone.
Then, much more incredible than Incredible Burt, is
that by midpoint—particularly in the birthday party scene—the story suddenly goes downhill; the jokes becoming corny, oftentimes absurdly off, like a
desperate act to save the movie, unable to pull off any more comedic tricks. It starts off inspired, then gradually becomes burned out.
The Incredible Burt Wonderstone, also
starring Olivia Wilde and James Gandolfini, is what Burt and Anton are: shining
and captivating in the beginning, but has eventually gone stale and sad. Another
missed potential.
2.5 out of 5 stars
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