I can’t help but think The Incredible Burt Wonderstone is one of those comedies that will be received more positively in the years to come, the way many absurdly comic movies tend to be. It’s not a film that works best on its comedic set pieces the way movies like The Hangover are designed to do. It does have these but they aren’t nearly as enjoyable as just the oddly funny details scattered throughout, and the simple pleasure in seeing Steve Carell and Steve Buscemi acting silly.
This begins with the introductions we receive to these childhood friends, from the opening where they’re revealed as Burt Wonderstone and Anton Marvelton, two of the most wonderfully contrived magic duo names. The stereotypes and stupidity combined with the straightness both Carell and Buscemi employ here result in an absurd collision of forces that I couldn’t help but relish. The biggest surprise in their relationship comes when we see them as kids, and the two child actors who play them are absolutely perfect in tone and demeanour, a rare thing from kids in comedy (the benchmark for this category is probably Modern Family. Oy). All I knew about this movie going in was that it was Steve Carell playing a magician named Burt Wonderstone and I was sold. The contributions of Buscemi and Jim Carrey were icing.
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