For many a young kid’s life, after being picked on for being different, we discover something that speaks to us, something magical. For many of us it was comic books, or fantasy like Tolkien, or video games. For some very special kids, this magic is actual magic. Burt Wonderstone (Steve Carrell) and his best friend since they were 8, Anton Marvelton (Steve Buscemi) were these kids.
And thus began Burt and Anton’s Magical Friendship, which propelled them to a successful 20 year run on the Las Vegas strip playing to sold out audiences. With a stale act and a decaying friendship, they are pushed to their limits when street magician Steve Gray (Jim Carrey) and his tv show “Brain Rapist” make them look like the outdated ponces they have become.
While Carrell and Buscemi both put in great performances, this film is Carrey’s. His over-the-top, manic, “more is more” approach to comedy is actually somewhat reigned in here, but emphasis on the “somewhat.” He’s like the wild stallion who has been somewhat tamed and racing like a thoroughbred. The character is so ridiculous that it fits his sensibilities well.
The other best piece of this is the supporting cast, headed by Olivia Wilde as Burt and Anton’s assistant and Alan Arkin as Rance Holloway, an aging magician who was young Burt’s inspiration for getting into magic. Jame Gandolfini plays fictional Vegas casino mogul Doug Munny, a nice change of pace for him. Jay Mohr also shows up as another magician named Rick the Implausible and is (gasp!) actually likeable for the first time on film in, I believe, more than a decade. Gillian Jacobs and Brad Garrett also show up for extended scenes as fun side characters.
But the most important question is, “But is it funny?”
Does a great magician never reveal his secrets?
This is easily the funniest movie of the year so far, really showing off the talent of each of these cast members. In the case of every single one, they deliver their best performance in years, except perhaps in the case of Arkin, who is both always spectacular and just coming off Argo.
Also good is some of the humor that comes directly from magic itself. A slight of hand trick involving a condom was a favorite gag of mine.
I do have a few complaints, however. Burt Wonderstone’s character arc seems a little unrealistic. He goes from jaded and sheltered idiot douche to normal guy with a heart of gold a little too quickly. When Ron Burgundy went through a similar fall from grace in Anchorman, his character barely changed. So… this isn’t Anchorman. (we should be so lucky!) But it’s still fun and worth checking out.
So if you’re looking for a solid comedy that makes you feel good, here you go. I you’re a fan of any of the cast, you’ll enjoy this mightily.
3 stars.