Though there is quite a wide range of forms of entertainment these days, none are quite as awe-striking as magic. Names like David Copperfield, Chris Angel, and Harry Houdini have left admirers in wonder over centuries.
“The Incredible Burt Wonderstone” adds a new name to the list of famous magicians. No matter the time period, people have always found it difficult to resist the unexplainable feats of magic.
This is exactly what Burt Wonderstone discovers that changes the course of his life completely. Steve Carell stars as Burt, a defenseless young boy who, subjected to daily humiliation, searches for a solution that will help him become something of importance. Burt teams up with his new friend, Anton, played by Steve Buscemi, after receiving an official “Rance Holloway” magic kit for his birthday.
The well-worn plot of a bullied child who rises to infamy is not only over-exaggerated with Burt’s newly found rich man attitude, but also with his incredibly bedazzled outfits. Sometime during his soar to fame, as has been done many a time, Burt manages to completely forget that at one time he was at the bottom of the social heap.
The highlight of the movie was Carell portraying the classic characteristics of a selfish, attention-seeking, money-spending buffoon. He managed to acquire an outrageous accent, a mullet, complete with golden highlights, and a high-and-mighty attitude.
His show is one that he and his partner Anton have been performing for years without anything new. He even uses music for an increasingly aged crowd. Burt’s attitude is highlighted when referring to his female stage assistants; he refuses to call them anything but Nicole even though he knows their real names.
This self-centered attitude, and probably the mullet, caused him to lose his friends and his magic show on the Las Vegas strip.
During Burt’s rapid decline, Steve Gray, played by Jim Carrey, comes in portraying the darker, more extreme side of Chris Angel. In classic Jim Carrey style, the character has a street “magic” show called Brain Rape. If the title of his so-called-show doesn’t explain the path that he is on, then maybe the scene where his card trick ends with him slicing his cheek open with a knife and retrieving a bloodied queen of spades from under his skin would do it.
Not only is his “magic” not considered to be real magic, it is quite disturbing. He becomes Burt’s main foe, and continues to antagonize him with smart-alec comments and increasingly disgusting and cringe-worthy acts.
During his return to fame, Carell’s character turns incredibly soft and father-like. He has a moment of enlightenment and does a complete turn-around. He even loses the hairstyle he cherished for so long. While this is very admirable, I highly doubt that losing all of his money, mullet and heavily bedazzled stage costumes can make anyone have that fast of a change-of-mind.
The movie’s big finale is rather cliché in that it is a head-to-head battle of magicians. Risking it all on the biggest magic trick that has yet to be attempted, Burt and Anton put their careers, their lives and the lives of their audience on the line.
“The Incredible Burt Wonderstone” was definitely a witty movie. With Carell and Carrey doing what they do best, they came up with a highly entertaining plot, but seemed to try a little too hard to create an award-winning film.
It may not have been worth the cost of a theater, but it definitely is worth the trip to the nearest Redbox.
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