The Incredible Burt Wonderstone

“Everybody loves a magician,” is the mantra of Director Don Scardino’s The Incredible Burt Wonderstone and, if you’re looking for light-hearted fare, you will enjoy this film.

 

Young Burt and his friend Anton are adolescent nerds…before that was a term…, who learned magic tricks as a refuge from being picked on by the cooler kids at school.

 

 

 

Now, thirty years later, they’ve become The Incredible Burt Wonderstone (Steve Carell) and Anton Marvelton (Steve Buscemi) with a topline magic act at one of Las Vegas’ major casinos. 

 

Unfortunately, their act is getting stale after a ten-year stint and audiences are turning to the more fantastical stunts of Steve Gray (Jim Carrey), who performs in the style of David Copperfield on speed. 

 

But, the self-absorbed Burt doesn’t face this reality until hotel boss Doug Munny (James Gandolfini) fires them and he learns his high lifestyle has left him broke. 

Thanks to Olivia Wilde, whose eyes are worth the price of admission...,

 

 

...and Alan Arkin’s hilarious antics as the retired magician, whose box of tricks was Burt’s original inspiration, The Incredible Burt Wonderstone is wonderful family fun.

The old adage from the days of vaudeville is, “Always leave them laughing” and the last moments of this film, in which Burt and Anton perform their greatest trick, will give you genuine belly laughs.

 

For that alone, I give The Incredible Burt Wonderstone a 3+ out of 5.