MAGICIANS

UK, 2007, 90 minutes, Colour.
David Mitchell, Robert Webb, Peter Capaldi, Steve Edge, Jessica Stephenson, Darren Boyd.
Directed by Andrew O’ Connor.

British audiences might be familiar with comedy duo of David Mitchell and Robert Webb from The Peep Show. Others may have seen them in a series of commercials (irritating ones) for Mac computers at the expense of all others. They always have an air of competitiveness about them with Mitchell usually precise and prissy and Webb laid back and nonchalant.

They bring these aspects of their personas to the roles of two magicians, childhood friends, who fall out when one has an affair with the other’s wife – and she is accidentally guillotined during an act. Needless to say, they find it difficult to get jobs after this. We see a few mildly amusing attempts to find work.

The screenplay falls back on the convention of the contest for the best magic. Will they combine? If they do, will the past be forgotten? Has the husband overcome his paranoia? Is the friend still too casual? And what of the woman who really wants to be an assistant – and is very keen on the guillotine trick until she hears the truth? And the competitors?

Fans of Mitchell and Webb may well enjoy Magicians. Others will find it sometimes amusing, sometimes so-so and filled with far too much schoolboy smutty innuendo which is unnecessary to the plot.

1.The popularity of David Mitchell and Robert Webb on television? On commercials? Their transferring their persona to this story?

2.The British setting, the theatres, restaurants, the Channel Islands, the hotel, the competition for magic? The TV channels? The beaches? A believable setting? Musical score?

3.The title – plainly stated? The central characters, their work and skills? The competition?

4.The credits, the photos and the friendship between Harry and Karl? Their work together, performance? The affair, the guillotine, the death of Harry’s wife? His blaming Karl? The aftermath?

5.Harry, trying to get jobs, doing magic tricks in the shops? Linda and her admiration? The complaints and his being sacked? His memories of his wife, antagonism towards Karl? His needs, after Social Services handouts? His seeing the information about the competition, ringing Karl, the formal phone call? Their meeting? The past? With Linda, her audition with her dance, her helping him, his assistant? Her eagerness about the guillotine act? His not telling her the truth? Going to the Channel Islands, at the hotel, the bonding, his suspicions of Linda and her behaviour? Karl and his concern? Warning Harry, warning Linda? The performance, Linda pulling out through fear, his confrontation with Karl, the truth about the relationship, Karl and his being willing to risk his life, the success of the act? Their winning?

6.Karl, working with Harry, the affair and his being caught, Carol’s death? His agent, Otto? Otto and the desire to be on television? His auditions with Karl, intruding into office meetings? The suggestion that he do memory tricks? The girl and her believing him? His response to Harry’s phone call, going to the Channel Islands? Karl on the beach, the audition for the television? The trick with the bucket on his head and his being buried in the sand? His being unwilling to do the mind-reading? The performance, the preparation with the stooge, throwing the ball, the stooge tripping and becoming unconscious? Karl and his confession? His discussions with Harry, volunteering, the reconciliation?

7.Linda, in the shop, following Harry, the audition, helping him, the training, her changing rooms – and Harry thinking she had left and his going to London and back? The performance and her withdrawal? Harry bringing her up on stage at the end?

8.Tony White, crass, talking about women all the time – and then stealing his son’s trick? And his prize?

9.The other magicians, the various performances? Audience interest in magic?

10.Otto, his push, with Karl, the innuendo about their relationship? The TV officials, Otto’s failure? Going on television – and making a mess of things?

11.Peter Capaldi as the manager of the jury, his comments, the interviews, the auditions? His reaction – and enjoying the touch of the sensational?

12.How humorous was the film? The appeal of the central duo?