ViewGuide

Created Jul 24, 2013 02:36PM PST • Edited Jul 27, 2013 09:30AM PST

1. Quality

2. Summary

   Barely OK 2.0

   Magic is making the incredible seem real, per The Incredible Burt Wonderstone. Comedy magic is making the recognizable irresistibly funny, per me. Alas, this movie lacks comedy magic.

   One wry smile, but no LOLs and no guffaws get triggered by its strenuous jokes. Pity too, because the cast is first rate and the settings ripe for parody. The satire works intellectually, just not abdominally.

   In fairness, I saw it from a coach seat on a small screen at 30,000 feet. On a big screen from a comfy recliner? Would still suck.

4. Acting

   Very Good 3.5

   Try screwing this up: Make a comedy movie starring Steve Carell, Jim Carrey, Alan Arkin and Jay Mohr. TV Director Jay Scardino screwed it up, big time.

   Oh yeah, add in the always bizarre Steve Buscemi, the always sexy Olivia Wilde and the always compelling James Gandolfini. Good thing Gandolfini’s got another movie or two in the can. Wouldn’t want Burt Wonderstone to be his swan song.

5. Male Stars Very Good 3.5

6. Female Stars Very Good 3.5

7. Female Costars Very Good 3.5

8. Male Costars Very Good 3.5

10. Film

    Barely OK 2.0

11. Direction Barely OK 2.0

12. Play Bad 1.0

13. Music OK 2.5

14. Visuals Good 3.0
15. Content

16. Edge

    Risqué 1.9

17. Sex Titillating 1.8

18. Violence Fierce 2.0

19. Rudeness Salty 2.0

21. Reality

    Glib 1.9

    Vegas and celebrity stunt performers a la Criss Angel are ripe for successful parody. Pity that this movie did it without generating laughs.

    In addition to Jim Carrey’s parody of Criss Angel, James Gandolfini’s character parodies Steve Wynn and Steve Carell’s title character David Copperfield.

22. Circumstantial Surreal 2.6

23. Biological Surreal 2.2

24. Physical Natural 1.0