Magicians
Agh. Agh. Agh. I try to shy away from mentioning the IMDb in my reviews, honestly god knows I really do; but how, how, how, how, how does this have a 6.3?! I was really hoping I’d be pleasantly surprised by this following the bad reviews the same way I was last week with Tenacious D. I love Mitchell and Webb, on the TV, on the radio, their sketch show, Peep Show, David Mitchell on panel shows … in my wildest nightmares I couldn’t have imagined this movie turning out quite as unfunny and uninspired as it is, even with my initial and ongoing cynicism about the whole project.
To call the movie desperate could easily be misunderstood – these guys’ comedy is practically based in desperation. No, this is desperation in a really, really bad way. It feels like the boys from Peep Show have been told they have to make a 90 minute movie or they’ll be in Trouble. It feels, literally, like one of the That Look sketches stretched beyond breaking point. Nevermind saying the characters aren’t as full as the Peep Show boys – that would be forgivable – these aren’t even up to snuff alongside Angel Summoner and BMX Bandit.
This movie has a really nice concept, the rival magicians thing which has already been done twice of course in the past two years, but done as comedy. But those concerned were either too rushed or too confident that they felt they didn’t need to add anything to that concept to make a movie out of it. There aren’t even many great magic tricks here. There’s a moment towards the end where Webb’s David Blaine/Derek Akorah-type show dies on its ass and he’s left staring at a disappointed audience as his act falls apart before his eyes. I don’t know anymore, is this where post-modern ironic comedy has brought us? ‘Cos if that’s the case, that scene is sort of genius.
Jessica Stevenson (Hynes? when’d that happen?) comes out unscathed, though, my hopes were definitely raised the moment I saw her; and did I spot Bernard Black’s summer girlfriend in there too? (the IMDb’s cast listing is pretty light, I have no idea what the actress’ name is). But otherwise this is seriously so bad it could lead to a re-evaluation of everything these guys have done. Just about the worst vehicle movie I’ve ever seen. Even the full feature version of the Sherlock Holmes sketch where Mitchell and Webb played both characters alternately as the shot changed would’ve been more fun.