Incredible Burt Wonderstone, The (3/15/2013)

Rated PG-13 for sexual content, dangerous stunts, a drug-related incident and language

Starring: Steve Carell, Steve Buscemi, Jim Carrey, Olivia Wilde and James Gandolfini

Director: Don Scardino

Abracatastic…or something like that!

Superstar magicians Burt Wonderstone (Steve Carell) and Anton Marvelton (Steve Buscemi) have ruled the Las Vegas Strip for years, raking in millions with illusions as big as Burt’s growing ego. But lately the duo’s greatest deception is their public friendship, while secretly they’ve grown to loathe each other. Facing cutthroat competition from guerrilla street magician Steve Gray (Jim Carrey), whose cult following surges with each outrageous stunt, even their show is starting to look stale. But there’s still a chance Burt and Anton can save the act – both onstage and off – if only Burt can get back in touch with what made him love magic in the first place.

I can’t help but thinking that Burt Wonderstone is not as good as I think it is. Maybe it’s because every PG-13 comedy is total trash or maybe its because I am easily amused or maybe because I actually like magic. Either way, it’s really not that bad.

The plot is fairly simplistic and predictable, but in a film as lighthearted as this one, most people won’t mind. Well maybe the magicians will mind. They are the butt of just about every joke…whether we’re talking about the hair, the clothes for the exaggerated motions, it’s funny because it’s true.

Steve Carell is both pompous and lovable, and his take on Vegas magicians is hilarious. I have mixed feelings about Jim Carrey as Steve Gray. He is clearly a spoof of Chris Angel, but instead of being creepy and cool, he’s creepy and obnoxious. It was like Lloyd (Dumb and Dumber) learned how to do magic. I really didn’t find him funny, then again I’ve never been the biggest Jim Carrey fan.

Rounding out the cast are an underused Steve Buscemi, who disappears for a good chunk of the film and Olivia Wilde seems like a bit of a mismatch for the goofy Carell. But James Gandolfini is perfect as casino owner Doug Munny. There’s also a great appearance by Alan Arkin as an aging and inspirational magician.

It didn’t blow me away or leave my side hurting from laughing so hard, but it is entertaining and had me smiling when I left the theater. That’s a Rental for me.

SHOULD KIDS SEE IT?
There is no nudity, but there are adult comments and adult situations that revolve around sex.

Steve’s “magic” tricks are both violent and often disgusting. Like when he slices his own cheek open to pull out a card and when he holds his arm above burning candles, then holds it up for the audience to see a burnt Happy Birthday wish swollen and scarred into his arm. Steve also does a trick which involves drilling into his own head.

There is 1 F-word, 7 S-words, several other obscenities and around 20 misuses of God’s name.

CONVERSATION STARTER
When we first see Burt Wonderstone in Vegas, how arrogant would you say he was? Why?

What happens to Burt?

Read Proverbs 16:18 First pride, then the crash – the bigger the ego, the harder the fall.

In the film Burt literally has a fall (out of the Hot Box), but what other things fell apart in his life?

What are some ways we can guard ourselves from becoming too arrogant?