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Here's a look at the new movie I saw this week.


The Incredible Burt Wonderstone
Starring: Steve Carell, Jim Carrey, Steve Buscemi, and Olivia Wilde
Synopsis: Like most things in the entertainment world, magic has changed a lot over the past few decades. Illusionists are now more daring, more in-your-face and more crude in plying their craft. What used to be about simple illusions, slight-of-hand and mis-direction is now about something else. This is what’s at the heart of the new film, “The Incredible Burt Wonderstone.” It’s a film about magic, second chances and trying to make some people laugh. And, to some degree, it works. There was a time when a film headlined by Jim Carrey and Steve Carell would have been a huge draw. But this isn’t that time. Instead, the film fell a bit flat in both its execution and opening weekend Box Office draw. It’s not hard to guess where this film is going. It’s a pretty by-the-numbers approach to this type of story that hopes to draw you in with magic, slight-of-hand and some goofy characters. At times that works well, but the film lacks punch and consistency, which makes it feel overly long though it’s just 100 minutes. The script from Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley (“Horrible Bosses”) has its moments, but it feels inconsistent. Carell’s character transitions from good guy to Michael Scott-like cad back to good guy a little too quickly. Anton feels two-dimensional, and it’s hard to tell what the audience is supposed to make of Steve Gray. The film at times feels like a commentary on the state of magic, but also seems to just be using that as a prop to tell a funny story. Since the film can’t seem to make up its mind, it’s hard for the audience to tell what the point is either. Director Don Scardino, who worked mostly on the small screen in comedies like “30 Rock” and “2 Broke Girls,” gives this film a very sitcom feel as well. That only adds to the feeling that it is overly long for what it has to offer. There are amusing moments. Carell is a gifted performer, and he has some good rapport on screen with Buscemi — in a wildly different role for him — and the amazing Arkin. But it’s not enough to make this a memorable or truly enjoyable film. As for Carrey, Steve Gray will join his cannon of wild screen characters, but there’s nothing particularly memorable or enjoyable about the character or the performance. It’s like a part that exists for comic relief but fails to provide any. This is a wildly uneven film. It had potential but, sadly, much of it is unrealized.
Rating: PG-13for sexual content, dangerous stunts, a drug-related incident and language.
Verdict: Two stars out of four.

Upcoming Releases:

Friday, March 22 — "Olympus Has Fallen," "Admission," "The Croods," "Spring Breakers"

Friday, March 29 — "The Host," "G.I. Joe: Retaliation," "Tyler Perry's Temptation," "A Place Beyond the Pines."