The
Incredible Burt Wonderstone
Film Review
by Kam Williams
Carrey and Carell Reunite to Make Movie Magic, Literally and Figuratively
Back in 2003, Jim Carrey was
upstaged as the title character of Bruce Almighty by a scene-stealing Steve
Carell as motor-mouthed, TV newscaster Evan Baxter. Consequently, Carrey wasn’t
even around for the sequel, Evan Almighty, a spinoff which completely revolved
around Carell’s expanded role.
Well, turnabout is fair play, and a
decade later we find his titular performance overshadowed here by an inspired
one on the part of a rejuvenated Carrey. Regardless, of far more import than
which one’s funnier is the fact that the two have reunited
and they’re better than ever as magicians competing to outdo each other in an
escalating game of one-upmanship.
Directed by
Don Scardino (NBC-TV’s 30 Rock), The Incredible Burt Wonderstone also features
a stellar supporting cast comprised of Alan Arkin, Steve
Buscemi, Olivia Wilde, James Gandolfini, Brad Garrett and Jay Mohr, as well as the
legendary David Copperfield, CNN’s Erin Burnett and MSNBC’s Richard Wolffe in
amusing cameo appearances.
The
picture’s engaging premise is fairly easy to follow. Burt Wonderstone (Carell) and Anton Marvelton
(Buscemi) have been doing magic tricks together since childhood, when they
first teamed up to entertain their classmates. After thirty years, they’re raking
in millions at Bally’s in Las Vegas where they share top billing on the marquee
as “Burt & Anton: A Magical Friendship.”
Truth be told, they’ve come to despise
each other, primarily because of Burt’s massive ego. As a result, the pair’s act has grown stale, giving street
performer Steve Gray (Carrey) a chance to steal a little of their thunder via bizarre
stunts like not blinking and not urinating for days on end.
When the newcomer captures the
public’s imagination, attendance at Burt and Anton’s shows declines, and it’s
not long before they feel the pressure to match Gray in outrageousness. But after
Anton breaks his ankles and some ribs during their first dangerous stunt, Burt
is forced to go mano-a-mano against Gray solo.
More than magic, the ensuing illusion
competition contrasts Carrey’s over-the-top antics with Carell’s relatively-droll,
tongue-in-cheek sense of humor, with the former’s sight gags bowling me over way
more than the latter’s dry wit. A battle of competing comedy styles won
hands-down by the rambunctious, rubber-faced run-a-muck!
Excellent
(3.5 stars)
Rated PG-13 for profanity, sexuality, dangerous stunts and a
drug-related incident.
Running time: 100 minutes
Distributor: Warner
Brothers
To see a trailer for The Incredible Burt Wonderstone, visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11TzXCWnUao
No comments:
Post a Comment