THE INCREDIBLE BURT WONDERSTONE

US, 2013, 100 minutes, Colour.
Steve Carell, Steve Buscemi, Jim Carrey, Alan Arkin, Olivia Wilde, James Gandolfini.
Directed by Don Scardino.

A film about magic does not necessarily mean ‘magical’.

This is the story of a boy who dreamed of being a magician – and achieved his goal, but with some melancholy results. Bullied at school, but with the help of a good friend, he grows up to call himself Burt Wonderstone, his friend becoming his stage partner, Anton Marvelton. Together, they become a long-standing attraction at Las Vegas with their own theatre (and manager, James Gandolfini).

One of the difficulties for the film is the casting of Steve Carell as Burt, who becomes more and more unpleasant, egotistical, presumptuously womanizing, antagonistic towards his partner who leaves, self-absorbed and unwilling to face reality. That is not the kind of image we associate with Carell, which, despite his effort in creating this obnoxious character, is difficult to accept. On the other hand, Steve Buscemi is quite convincing as Anton.

But, if Burt is egotistical, he is out-manouevred and out-ego’d by a street magician, into pain feats, played with his usual intensity by Jim Carrey. The challenge and rivalry, and his being abandoned by his manager, helps to bring Burt to his senses (well, almost). He has clashed with his partner, Jane (Olivia Wilde) and has discovered his mentor, Rance Holloway (an engaging performance from Alan Arkin), who is now in a nursing home.

Of course, this is a story of a comeback trail and comeuppance of the bragging street magician. It has many amusing moments, but it is the not quite very incredible Burt who is part of the problem with engaging fully with the film.


1. The title and the focus on Burt? Expectations? Incredible? The portrait of Burt, real and surreal? The world of magic, Las Vegas showbiz and its aura? Celebrity?
2. The appeal of magic, sleight of hand, tricks, performance, the audience and wonder and awe? Or is the question of how…?
3. The set-up? The boys, Burt and his box of tricks, learning, performing, Anton and Burt working with each other? Burt as the leader, Anton as led? The development?
4. Over 20 years, the repetition of the act, stagnation? Burt’s own theatre in Las Vegas, the audience, relying on the past, refusing to face the challenge?
5. The focus on the children, Burt’s 10th birthday, friendship with Anton, creativity, friendship?
6. The Las Vegas show, its glitz, Burt’s role, Anton’s roll, a pleasant character, support? Stale act? The diminishing audiences? The assistants, Burt and his arrogance, harassment? Anton as nice?
7. Steve Carell as Burt, age, self-centered, friendship with Anton but using him, his manner with the girls? Their resigning? Jane, her arrival, performance, interaction? Burt and his competitive sense?
8. Jim Carrey as Steve Grey? Character, persona, performance, outdoors, shock and pain, the reaction of the audiences, the challenge to Burt?
9. The world of agents, advice, Burt’s agent and wanting to withdraw the money? The idea of the glass box, Burt’s claustrophobia, upsetting the balance, the crash, failure? Anton, some self-assertion, parting from Burt? Jane?
10. Burt, performing in markets, old people’s homes? His meeting Rance Holloway, inventor of the box? Holloway encouraging Burt, helping him to become more realistic, more himself, more peaceful?
11. Jane, interactions with Burt, his behaviour with women, callow? Her love for Burt? Las Vegas hopes? Her ambitions for magic?
12. The financier, interviews with Burt, box office, threats?
13. The new performance, the trick, the audience disappearing, a new location, their being drugged and transported? Holloway’s help? Success?
14. Steve, his excesses, his vanity and becoming a celebrity, interaction with people, arrogant? The final tricks, more suffering, pain? His comeuppance?
15. How successful a film as a comedy, presenting the story of Burt, the parody of the vain magician, the pathos for Anton, the mocking of Steve? Dialogue, jokes, one-liners?