ViewGuide

Created Aug 22, 2009 02:28AM PST • Edited Aug 22, 2009 10:00AM PST

1. Quality

2. Summary

   OK 2.5

   Mildly amusing though insufficiently charismatic, this low key movie nonetheless provides pleasant diversion for showbiz fans. The byways of a showman’s life and the pleasures of watching his artifice are its highlights, rather like a less arch Christopher Guest movie. Sadly, neither the tongue-in-cheek script or Colin Hanks as the audience’s surrogate rises to the occasion. Buck Howard may be great, but this movie’s far from it.

   Tom Hanks produced it, no doubt in part to give his son Colin a starring opportunity. Way to go Dad.

4. Acting

   Good 3.0

   John Malkovich – never less than interesting – here plays a showbiz creature like many he must have met in his long career. Of course he nails it, making the movie watchable due to his compelling presence.

   Colin Hanks proves rarely interesting. Milquetoast is more like it. He’s like his father, sans the spark.

   Speaking of papa, Tom Hanks himself cameos as his son’s dad. In two short scenes he shows that the spark of charisma is God’s gift to movie stars. He has it and his son doesn’t.

   Emily Blunt always plays smart. Here she also comes across as appealing.

   A couple of other name actors help dress up the movie: the reliably unctuous Ricky Jay and the increasingly impressive Steve Zahn.

   Plus a bunch of as himself stars parade through, including Tom Arnold, David Blaine, Gary Coleman, Regis Philbin, Conan O’Brien and Jay Leno.

5. Male Stars Good 3.0

   Malkovich deserves a Great, Colin Hanks deserves just an OK. Net is an even 3.0 Good.

6. Female Stars Good 3.0

7. Female Costars Very Good 3.5

8. Male Costars Very Good 3.5

10. Film

    OK 2.5

    Writer-Director Sean McGinly channels his personal experience into this labor of love.¹ If only he were able to dial up the archness a few more degrees and have a cast more uniform in talent, the film might have been memorable.

    ¹ See Reality below.

11. Direction Good 3.0

12. Play OK 2.5

13. Music Good 3.0

14. Visuals Barely OK 2.0
15. Content

16. Edge

    Tame 1.4

17. Sex Titillating 1.6

18. Violence Gentle 1.0

19. Rudeness Salty 1.6

21. Reality

    Glib 1.2

    It struck me that Buck Howard could be based on The Amazing Kreskin, a “mentalist” still going strong after 40 years on-stage. Wouldn’t you know it, Wikipedia says Sean McGinly did indeed base his movie on his experiences working briefly as the road manager for Kreskin.

    Just as I’ve judged The Great Buck Howard to be 20% paranormal, so it was when I saw The Amazing Kreskin live many years ago. The guy was clearly beyond the ken of normal humans in what he could make people do.

22. Circumstantial Glib 1.4

23. Biological Glib 1.2

24. Physical Glib 1.3