The Incredible Burt Wonderstone
Directed by Don Scardino
- comedy
The story
After breaking up with his longtime stage partner, a famous but jaded Vegas magician fights for relevance when a new, "hip" street magician appears on the scene.
What it’s like
Bright, saturated Las Vegas light does most of the work here: hotel casino floors glowing in gold and magenta, showroom spotlights cutting through haze, and the flat, sun-bleached daylight of a desert strip that makes the glitz look a little tired. Camera work is quick and easy, with bright comic framing and a lot of stage-set symmetry that suits the backstage polish of an old illusion act. The score is bouncy and upbeat, and the sound of applause, clinking glasses and card shuffles fills most scenes. Tone is breezy and light, a sitcom-like comedy that leans on sharp one-liners and character clowning rather than real stakes. The arc follows a complacent veteran entertainer and his estranged partner, both slowly rediscovering why they loved the work and each other. Violence is minimal and cartoonish, with a few slapstick stunts and a brief stretch of self-inflicted harm played for laughs; there is some crude humour and mild sexual innuendo. It suits a relaxed, undemanding evening or a light comfort watch, and it's for people who enjoy goofy, affectionate comedy about showbiz and friendship.
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