“The Incredible Burt Wonderstone” is a light comedy that pokes fun at magicians. The cast has a number of recognizable names: Steve Carell, Jim Carrey, Steve Buscemi, Alan Arkin, James Gandolfini, and Olivia Wilde. Reminiscent of “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy,” it is packed with hilarious gags and is consistently funny. The film is directed by Don Scardino, who has won multiple Emmy Awards for TV shows like “30 Rock.”
The audience is set up to sympathize with Burt Wonderstone (Steve Carell), who is bullied as a child. For his birthday, he receives a magic kit by veteran magician Rance Holloway (Alan Arkin). He forms a lasting friendship with another boy, Anthony, who shares his dream of becoming a magician one day. The two practice their magic tricks and become masters of their craft. They grow up to be Burt Wonderstone and Anton Marvelton (Steve Buscemi), two superstar magicians in Las Vegas.
Ten years after they conquer Sin City, however, the duo’s act becomes stale. A street magician named Steve Gray (Jim Carrey) is taking Las Vegas by storm. Doug Munny (James Gandolfini), the owner of Aztec Casino where Burt and Anton perform, pressures the duo to bring more butts into the seat. He tells them to take a cue from Steve’s masochistic stunts such as holding urine in for twelve days and sleeping on a bed of hot, glowing coals.
Burt and Anton try a similar stunt, but they miserably fail, leaving Anton injured. Fed up with Burt’s colossal ego and tired of performing the same tricks for years, Anton leaves Burt. Burt tries his best to keep the show running on his own but fails. As a result, Doug Munny shuts the production, leaving Burt broke and despondent.
Burt eventually finds a job as an entertainer in an assisted-living care facility for the elderly. There, he finds his idol, Rance Holloway. Disgusted by Steve Gray’s style, Rance becomes Burt’s mentor. Together, they polish their tricks in the hopes of beating Steve in his own game.
Buscemi and Carell are hysterically funny in their roles as magicians tired of doing their same old routine before an admiring crowd. It is an absolute delight to see them work together. It is about time that Buscemi be given a major comedic role. The duo’s cheesy costumes and wigs add a nice comedic touch. The two flatter each other hilariously, and viewers can tell that performing their magic tricks has become somewhat of a chore for them.
Ever the physical comedian, Jim Carrey is a blast to watch as he performs endurance-based stunts as Steve Gray, who seems to be a Criss Angel-inspired character. In this movie, Carrey wears long blond locks, some eyeliner, and bizarre outfits. His character has a tangible draw and is able to pull off “gross out” humor. However, at times, his performance may seem a little over the top, and viewers may almost wish that he used a little more restraint at certain moments. Intensity is a virtue when it comes to comedic acting, but only to a certain extent.
James Gandolfini and Alan Arkin are both perfectly cast in this movie. Gandolfini plays the archetypical big shot club owner who only cares about making money. Arkin is endearing as the legendary magician who wisely tells Wonderstone to believe in magic because, otherwise, no one else would.
Olivia Wilde delivers a great performance as Wonderstone’s assistant and love interest, Jane. In a movie with big-name comedic actors, she holds her own and shows her comedic talent. It is a pity that she has very little to do in the movie. Interestingly, she is the only female character in the film. For the sake of balance, she should have been given a stronger role.
Though some stretches in the film seem to be devoid of comedy, it does have some heart. The movie successfully delivers its underlying message to the audience: Get paid to do what you love, but if your work starts becoming more of a chore, step back and remember what made you fall in love with your job in the first place.
