Blu-ray Review: ‘The Incredible Burt Wonderstone’ Isn’t Funny at Home Either

CHICAGO – Some comedies improve when they climb down off the big screen and take up residence on the small one. Perhaps it’s just that we’re more forgiving at home then we are when we’re paying a fortune for tickets, parking, and popcorn. Or we’re just more accustomed to bad comedy writing on TV. However, “The Incredible Burt Wonderstone,” one of the more notable box office flops of 2013 so far (it couldn’t crack $23 million TOTAL) is not one of those better-at-home comedies. It’s still a stunniningly flat, boring piece of work and the scant special features do nothing to improve it.

Rating: 1.5/5.0

The problems with “Burt Wonderstone” are primarily on the writing level although a miscast Steve Carell really doesn’t help and Jim Carrey’s broad spoof of David Blaine isn’t nearly as funny as he thinks it is. Supporting characters fare better, especially the always-great Alan Arkin, Olivia Wilde, and the gone-too-soon James Gandolfinini.

As for special features, the package is incredibly slight, especially for Warner Bros., a company that typically loads their new release Blu-rays with bonus material. There are over 20 minutes of deleted scenes, none of which produce a single laugh, a gag reel, an extended bit with Carrey’s character, and a featurette interviewing the only man involved in the film’s production who seemed willing to talk about it, David Copperfield.

The Incredible Burt Wonderstone will be released on Blu-ray and DVD on June 25, 2013
Photo credit: Warner Bros.

Synopsis:
Superstar illusionists and Las Vegas headliners Burt Wonderstone (Steve Carell) and Anton Marvelton (Steve Buscemi) have fallen on hard times. The longtime friends now loathe each other and they face cutthroat competition from guerrilla street magician Steve Gray (Jim Carrey), whose cult following surges with each outrageous stunt. But there’s still a chance to save the act - both onstage and off - if Burt can retrieve his magic mojo!

Special Features:
o Steve Gray Uncut
o Deleted Scene & Alternate Takes
o Making Movie Magic With David Copperfield
o Gag Reel

[13]	By BRIAN TALLERICO [14] Content Director HollywoodChicago.com brian@hollywoodchicago.com [13]