The Incredible Burt Wonderstone (2013)

It was a matter of time before the current world of magic would form the basis for a comedy. The genre has already been used to produce an amazing drama, The Prestige, but does it work as a comedy too (not counting the short Pixar animated film Presto)? Growing up I can remember watching David Copperfield in total awe, walking through the Great Wall of China or making a plane disappear. Those are moments I will never forget. As reality Tv became bigger it gave rise to the street artists getting their own specials, David Blaine and Dynamo are example of them. The tricks Blaine did were on a small scale and later became more extreme (staying in a see through box without food or holding your breath for some time). This movie takes those two forms of magic, with Burt Wonderstone (Steve Carrell) and Anton Marvelton (Steve Buscemi) doing the type of magic Copperfield is known for and Steve Gray (Jim Carrey) representing the extreme version of street magic. Does the movie manage to marvel or can you see the rabbit that is hiding in the hat?

Burt Wonderstone and Anton Marvelton have been a succesful magic duo ever since they met when they were kids. They have worked their way up and have secured a spot in Las Vegas, where they perform the same show all year round. Burt is the one who makes all the decisions and really isn’t interested what Anton has to say. Although they work together, their friendship seems to have been lost. When the casino boss Doug Munny (James Gandolfini) tells them that they are not as popular anymore and that they have to think of something new or lose their contract, everything falls apart, despite their efforts. The two stop working together. Burt has been doing the show for so long however that he has become accustomed to the luxuries and he doesn’t think he needs Anton to do his show. It results in one of my favorite scenes where he’s doing a trick which is impossible to do by yourself.

He gets fired and then has to realise he’s not as big anymore as he used to be, the new kid in town, Steve Gray who is getting all the attention. Although this movie is about Carrell’s character, it really is Jim Carrey who steals the show. His character is completely crazy and it shows that Carrey had fun playing the role.
The movie has a lot of very funny moments (another highlight for me was when Buscemi’s character wants to spread magic to poor countries) and even though you know where the story eventually will go, it is a fun ride. Not a movie that will make a lasting impression, but it’s a nice, funny diversion.