Remember the time in Bruce Almighty where Steve Carell played the rival of Jim Carrey’s character? Well, that’s taking a switch in The Incredible Burt Wonderstone. Steve Carell plays Burt Wonderstone, a famous magician who performs in Las Vegas together with his partner in crime Anton Marvelton, played by Steve Buscemi. As ecstatic as we are to see Steve Carell on the big screen once again, it is Jim Carrey we’ve been waiting for.
Childhood friends Burt Wonderstone and Anton Marvelton have been headlining Las Vegas and awing crowds with extravagant illusions for many years. As their show grows monotonous, Burt turns bitter and arrogant, putting his friendship with Anton at risk. The situation worsens when popular street magician, Steve Gray gives them a run for their money. Burt must get his act together and rediscover his passion for magic before he loses his career and friend.
Decked in glittery maroon velvet, Steve Carell bares his hairless chest and blows his hair up to epic proportions (as far as Steve Carell goes) all in the name of magic. We were going to say that it’s a good thing his hair becomes normal as the film progresses, but we kind of like his quirky new ‘do. He sends us to the land of laughter rife with sexual innuendoes with the help of Steve Buscemi who transforms into an adorably awkward and geeky Anton.
Jim Carrey appears in this movie as a Criss Angel-like street magician with gloriously long blonde hair. His hilariously gruesome stunts remind us of his days on In Living Colour where most of his extreme characters, like Fire Marshall Bill, endured self-inflicted pain. Although there was one scene that was really too gross to bear, it’s good to see Carrey doing what he does best – going all out with his compelling characters for our entertainment.
Olivia Wilde plays Jane, the magician’s assistant who dreams to take center stage as an illusionist. She got her 15, or rather, five minutes of fame with a bit of sleight of hand on screen, although she could’ve gotten more. But who are we kidding. With Steve Carell and Jim Carrey in the cast, no one really wants to see Wilde pull a trick.
The Incredible Burt Wonderstone, directed by Don Scardino, executed its cinematography flawlessly. All the razzle-dazzle of magic was captured so stunningly, it left no room for errors. Special mentions to the opening title sequence are very much deserved, as it’s one of the better ones we’ve seen in a while. This movie may not have brought us laughing to tears, but it was definitely worth the ticket we paid for. So if you need a little pick-me-up comedy or just want to see Steve Carell or Jim Carrey work their magic, this show is a definite must-see.
Image Credits: Facebook/The Incredible Burt Wonderstone, Warner Bros.
