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The Incredible Burt Wonderstone Play Trailer Get Showtimes

The Incredible Burt Wonderstone (2013)

tomatometer

38

Average Rating: 5.2/10
Reviews Counted: 173
Fresh: 65 | Rotten: 108

The Incredible Burt Wonderstone serves up some goofy laughs, but given its outrageous conceit, it's surprisingly safe and predictable.

22

Average Rating: 4.8/10
Critic Reviews: 37
Fresh: 8 | Rotten: 29

The Incredible Burt Wonderstone serves up some goofy laughs, but given its outrageous conceit, it's surprisingly safe and predictable.

audience

63

liked it
Average Rating: 3.3/5
User Ratings: 30,112

My Rating

Movie Info

Superstar magicians Burt Wonderstone (Steve Carell) and Anton Marvelton (Steve Buscemi) have ruled the Las Vegas strip for years, raking in millions with illusions as big as Burt's growing ego. But lately the duo's greatest deception is their public friendship, while secretly they've grown to loathe each other. Facing cutthroat competition from guerilla street magician Steve Gray (Jim Carrey), whose cult following surges with each outrageous stunt, even their show looks stale. But there's still

Jun 25, 2013

$22.5M

Warner Bros. Pictures - Official Site External Icon

Cast

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All Critics (173) | Top Critics (37) | Fresh (65) | Rotten (108)

This comedy about a magician who must hit bottom before rising again to the wonder of his beloved craft pulls plenty of sweet moments and a slew of laughs out of a story that might have been thin air.

March 15, 2013 Full Review Source: Denver Post
Denver Post
Top Critic IconTop Critic

This may be the kind of semi-bad, semi-inspired comedy that could not only stand repeated viewings but perhaps improve with them.

March 15, 2013 Full Review Source: TIME Magazine
TIME Magazine
Top Critic IconTop Critic

A generic, fitfully funny mainstream comedy that doesn't nearly get the best from its name-brand players but doesn't qualify as a desecration, either.

March 15, 2013 Full Review Source: Washington Post
Washington Post
Top Critic IconTop Critic

A veritable festival of bad toupees and repeated gags that just lie there, "The Incredible Burt Wonderstone'' runs a bit more than an hour and a half but seems much longer - like it had been edited down at the last minute.

March 15, 2013 Full Review Source: New York Post
New York Post
Top Critic IconTop Critic

The Incredible Burt Wonderstone isn't.

March 15, 2013 Full Review Source: Globe and Mail
Globe and Mail
Top Critic IconTop Critic

"The Incredible Burt Wonderstone" isn't incredible, but it's a nicely performed bit of programmed Hollywood hilarity.

March 15, 2013 Full Review Source: Detroit News
Detroit News
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Carrey is the movie's ace up its sleeve. He's at his frighteningly manic best. If the Academy ever considered awards for comedies released in March, Carrey certainly deserves one.

May 3, 2013 Full Review Source: San Francisco Examiner
San Francisco Examiner

Normally, this type of comedy would be a fun, forgettable ride. But these days, it feels like a welcomed wonder.

April 25, 2013 Full Review Source: Spectrum (St. George, Utah)
Spectrum (St. George, Utah)

Everything that happens after it lets its abrasive character off the hook is completely predictable, but movies with this kind of pervasive silliness don't exist for their unpredictable plot lines-in fact they rely on predictability.

April 15, 2013 Full Review Source: Scene-Stealers.com
Scene-Stealers.com

Magic-less.

April 11, 2013 Full Review Source: PopMatters
PopMatters

4 good jokes do not a good comedy feature film make.

April 8, 2013 Full Review Source: Triple J
Triple J

The cast members can't elevate this subpar material, although they do showcase an impressive array of sequined costumes and crazy wigs.

March 29, 2013 Full Review Source: Cinemalogue.com
Cinemalogue.com

One of the most disappointing aspects of the whole thing is that you really want to like the movie.

March 28, 2013 Full Review Source: Paste Magazine
Paste Magazine

A sweet film with a message of never giving up on your dreams, "The Incredible Burt Wonderstone" gets by on the magic of a game cast.

March 26, 2013 Full Review Source: MediaMikes
MediaMikes

This lame comedy lacks anything resembling amusement and magic - until the final credits which involve a sight gag.

March 24, 2013 Full Review Source: SSG Syndicate
SSG Syndicate

Conjures up some laughs, if nothing else

March 24, 2013 Full Review Source: Movie Habit
Movie Habit

Now you see it, and now you wish you really hadn't.

March 21, 2013 Full Review Source: Tucson Weekly
Tucson Weekly

In The Incredible Burt Wonderstone, Jim Carrey makes a great freak, and Carell and Buscemi are total geeks.

March 21, 2013 Full Review Source: tonymacklin.net
tonymacklin.net

Remains stubbornly mediocre without ever being actively awful. It's stuck in this dreadful oily neutral of being almost virulently OK.

March 21, 2013 Full Review Source: Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

Steve Carell is no Magic Mike.

March 20, 2013 Full Review Source: jackiekcooper.com
jackiekcooper.com

The Incredible Burt Wonderstone makes the classic mistake of thinking a comedy about magicians will be magical.

March 20, 2013 Full Review Source: Times [UK]
Times [UK]

Big silly fun in the Anchorman vein, The Incredible Burt Wonderstone is packed with great gags, recognisable characters and performances from comedians at the top of their game.

March 20, 2013 Full Review Source: Film4

The Incredible Burt Wonderstone is the kind of film that creates laughs by having characters who look funny and speak funny. I only wish the dialogue itself was funny.

March 19, 2013 Full Review Source: ABC Radio Brisbane
ABC Radio Brisbane

Try as you might to magic up Bill Bixby from the 70s' TV series The Magician, it just ain't going to happen.

March 19, 2013 Full Review Source: Birmingham Mail
Birmingham Mail

Now you laugh at it, now you don't.

March 19, 2013 Full Review Source: Tampa Bay Times
Tampa Bay Times

Poking fun at old-school magicians, The Incredible Burt Wonderstone pulls the odd chuckle out of the hat, but despite the starry presence of comic headliners Steve Carrell and Jim Carrey the film fails to dazzle.

March 19, 2013 Full Review Source: Movie Talk
Movie Talk

Audience Reviews for The Incredible Burt Wonderstone

In my opinion, "The Incredible Burt Wonderstone" is a very underrated comedy filled with heart and some good humour. It may not be the hilarious comedy that it is advertised to be, but in the end, that doesn't matter, because the entire cast give fine performances and you really start to feel everyones chemistry coming together. The story is cliched and predictable, but that really didn't bother me, because the heart of the film really makes up for it. It really makes you appreciate the art of magic. This film is not great in any way, but it is very fun to watch. It's a harmless film that anyone can sit back, relax and enjoy, if you are not too critical. I had fun with his one.
April 21, 2013
KJ Proulx

Super Reviewer

Has Jim Carrey has had his big moment in the limelight? he's taking on ensemble roles lately, no pivotal lead star vehicles anymore?. As for Carell this could be his best film to date, a sweet sincere performance which is a change from his usual tomfoolery in various naff wasted projects.

This film is a mixture of two things really, on one hand we have yet another film about magic, this time a light hearted comedy. On the other hand, at times, it does ever so slightly cross over to that 'frat pack' type of comedy and you half expect Wilson or Farrell to pop up, luckily its not that outrageous.

A simple concept about two traditional razzle dazzle Vegas magicians that fall out after many years together. Then to add insult to injury a younger, tougher, edgier, high risk taking street magician steps into the fray and steals what their fame.

When I first started to watch this I defintely thought it was heading down the silly spoof route. There are moments that hint at that, but as the film progresses it turns out to be a really nice touching film that makes you smile. There are some great little funny touches dotted throughout which mainly come from Carell's character. Even though in the plot the character is from the 80's generation he seems to have been transported from the 50's. A complete male chauvinist and womaniser with little tact, yet he doesn't realise it and thinks he's a gentleman. Much of this is down to his Vegas bubble lifestyle which has transformed him into this spoilt makeup wearing lothario.

Naturally this makes for some great dialog and some hilarious pompous behaviour from Carell. Kudos to Carrey for his wholly annoying street magician who obviously is having a go at people like David Blane/Criss Angel. His nasty tricks aren't real magic of course, simply sick stunts that appease people's morbid curiosity. So the film does achieve something plot wise, you hate Carrey's character and see him for what he clearly is, whilst at the same time you are gradually warming to Carell's character and seeing he is actually a decent man.

I also loved Arkin's character and performance as the old classical, black tux magician with the pencil thin tash, almost Vincent Price-like. I also liked Gandolfini's Vegas hotel/casino owner, I loved his chic 70's-like fashions (well that's how it appeared to me) and how he still looks like a head honcho for the mob.

Some great hand trick work shown throughout, alongside various other more impressive tricks, being a film I'm sure many were assisted with movie effects. The only thing I didn't really like was the ending and how they win back their fame. It seemed a step too far and way too easy for something horrific to go wrong surely!. OK its a comedy and there's gonna be artistic license involved, its not suppose to be genuine but still...it just didn't quite feel right. Plus the idea seemed like a massive undertaking on a regular basis sheesh!.

Apart from that minor detail a very pleasant surprise, enjoyed the film, the glossy visuals and all the characters. Love the films title by the way, although I think 'The Amazing Burt Wonderstone' looks and sounds better.
April 18, 2013
phubbs1

Super Reviewer

    1. Burt Wonderstone: Ow! I hit my knee on your face!
    – Submitted by Moe J (48 days ago)
    1. Burt Wonderstone: I'm Burt Wonderstone!
    2. Anton Marvelton: And I'm Anton Marvelton!
    3. Burt Wonderstone: But, of course, you already knew that.
    – Submitted by Gavin K (51 days ago)
    1. Steve Gray: I forgot my drill.
    – Submitted by Rob B (52 days ago)
    1. Steve Gray: Your skin makes me cry.
    – Submitted by Austin G (53 days ago)
    1. Doug Munny: Prepare to have your brain raped!
    – Submitted by Austin G (53 days ago)

Discussion Forum

Topic Last Post Replies
Box Office? 35 days ago 1
I don't know what to think. 50 days ago 24
Certainly worth renting... 54 days ago 1
Some scenes leaked online 54 days ago 4

Latest News on The Incredible Burt Wonderstone

March 15, 2013:
Critics Consensus: The Incredible Burt Wonderstone is Short on Razzle Dazzle
This week at the movies, we've got dueling magicians (The Incredible Burt Wonderstone, starring...

March 15, 2013:
Parental Guidance: The Incredible Burt Wonderstone, Rise of the Guardians, and Life of Pi
This week in family films, we've got feuding magicians (The Incredible Burt Wonderstone), an...

March 15, 2013:
John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein Talk Burt Wonderstone and More
Behind-the-scenes insights from the busy duo.

Foreign Titles

  • Der unglaubliche Burt Wonderstone (DE)
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