"Then in the black hat, we have Carrey's character, who is an utterly one-dimensional stupid jerk, and whose comeuppance is entirely his own fault."
Didn't Will Ferrell already do that with Ron Burgundy?
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Then in the black hat, we have Carrey's character, who is an utterly one-dimensional stupid jerk, and whose comeuppance is entirely his own fault. There's no humanizing of him where there easily could be - Burt's a dick, so it wouldn't be hard to give him an antagonist who's mildly sympathetic and thereby complicate the dynamic a bit. But no, Steve is just dickier.
Now, it could be that I'm being unnecessarily demanding on my magic movies, as I didn't care for The Prestige's sudden detour into sci-fi and cloning either. But setting a movie in this world requires research, not just of the personalities involved but the trick techniques as well. How does Carrey vomit forth endless (non-puke covered) candy as a human pinata, or how would he in the real world? I don't know, and I suspect the writers don't either - they just wanted a gross-out gag.
There are some fun supporting turns here: James Gandolfini as the ultimate absent father, Jay Mohr as a low-rent magic comic who can't ever quite tell a joke properly (and isn't it ironic that he's still funnier than most of the polished humor on display?) and Alan Arkin as the original magician who inspires Burt, particularly funnily in flashbacks under a bad toupee and thick makeup for el cheapo de-aging effect. I don't think the acting is the problem here, but the material. Fool me twice, shame on me; fool me never, and you shouldn't be in the prestidigitation game.
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35 comments
Thanks for the review, even if I wasn't going to see this anyway. Steve Carrell couldn't make me laugh if his life depended on it, and I haven't found Jim Carrey funny since.. I don't know, Liar Liar maybe? It's been a very long time.
Thanks, LYT. This was on the list to watch this week, but now it's off. I hate it when they do CGI because it's cheap and easy. I also hoped it would be more dimensional.
Guess I'll wait for it to show up on HBO or EPIX.
Really hate that a new film comes out, and within its first week, someone posts spoilers galore with no warning, ruining the film for those who have been waiting for it. Give it at least 3 weeks folks.
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@Canadian.Scott @thehuntress1967 To be fair about the spoilers, I automatically assumed the movie would follow the generic "jackass becomes humailiated *probably has some scene where he relearns his crafts* beats his enemy and gets the girl".
I'm surpised Neil Patrick Harris wasn't in this, since he's a real life magician.
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@thehuntress1967 If you were serious about maintaining your spoiler-virginity, you could easily just take a pass on reading articles like this on a site known for detailing and dissecting movies.
In other words, give it three weeks.
@James.k.Polk @thehuntress1967 Yeah, I understand the frustration, but if I were to wait three weeks to review a movie, that wouldn't be helpful on the traffic end.
I do my best to avoid major spoilers in reviews, but honestly, what were the spoilers here? That the female lead ends up with the male lead? That the protagonist is more sympathetic than the antagonist?
I'm serious; let me know. I don't wish to spoil movies with reviews if they have a genuine surprise that affects the enjoyment of the movie. I really don't believe this is one, though.
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I still don't get how people were surprised by the sci-fi aspects of The Prestige - Tesla's a supporting character, for Pete's sake
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Said it before and I'll say it again........David Bowie should have been nominated for Best Supporting Actor Oscar for this...........
First, I really love that you do this each week. It's a great new feature.
Second, thanks for reviewing this one in particular. I used to love Jim carrey and Steve Carell, and I used to be hugely into magic. A movie starring both of them that skewered the "magicians" that do street magic? Perfect! but many of those negatives would have really pissed me off when watching the movie. What I loved about movies like The Prestige are that you ultimately found out how things were done (even if it detoured into sci-fi to explain some of it). that made things immensely satisfying. I know this is a comedy, but it they just digitally enhance things for comedy's sake, I'd be mad. Plus, Carell is actually quite good at close up magic (he did some in 40 Year Old Virgin and The Office). Why in the world would they CGI that??
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It feels like this movie is a few years too late. Like this should have come out in 2008 or something, when everyone knew Criss Angel.
Well I was on the fence about seeing this movie, I am glad I read this, I am going to give it a pass.
Sounds like Michael Scott as an Illusionist. Also boo to the bait and switch Olivia Wilde promos.
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I was passing anyways. Besides magic can be dangerous.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=zq5LrOsvLW8#t=624s
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Tricks are what prostitutes do Luke, what these guys do are illusions.
[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/mq7HZ.gif[/IMG]
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Why does it sound like the writers of this movie watched Zoolander and thought "this, but with magicians!"
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I've never been fond of Jim Carrey's comedies, but then so much "humor" now a days fails to amuse me
@Gallen_Dugall with you on that. seems like many comedy writers graduated from the SNL school of milking a bit until it begs for mercy.
@James.k.Polk @Gallen_Dugall Remember when SNL used to know when to stop.
@Ford_Thundercougarfalconbird @James.k.Polk @Gallen_Dugall No, I don't. I remember bloated, unfunny skits from the John Belushi era.
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@Gallen_Dugall it depends on which one. I really loved Liar Liar (the pen scene and the bathroom scene are gems), and Bruce Almighty is okay (Morgan Freeman as God does a lot to improve ANY movie) but by and large I think he's better in serious roles.
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@rabidronnie@Gallen_Dugall One of his best roles ever...
[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/zqXSa.gif[/IMG]
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@Canadian.Scott Best scene in 2 is when he gets stuck in the robo rhino and escapes out of the little hole in the back.
@Canadian.Scott @rabidronnie @Gallen_Dugall I don't know if you're kidding, but I unironically love Ace Ventura. I genuinely think it's hilarious.
Bruce Almighty annoyed the crap out of me. He spends the entire film trying to sleep with Jennifer Anniston then whines about how hard it is being God. Yes, I expect it is hard when you have no imagination whatsoever.
