Release Date:
Friday, March 20, 2009
Directed by: Sean McGinly
The Skinny: A confused young man (Colin Hanks) decides he's living his father's dream more than his own and drops out of law school. Looking for work, he takes a job as the personal assistant to a once-famous but no less egotistical "mentalist" named Buck Howard (John Malkovich).
The Good: Malkovich! His Buck Howard is all toothy grin and violent handshake, and it's really a great comedic character. The movie rests on his shoulders and whenever he's onscreen it all clicks. This isn't a "laugh out loud" movie, however. It's just pleasantly amusing throughout. And Emily Blunt is adorable and funny, which has us hoping she'll avoid the stuffy, self-serious corset dramas that seem to ensnare quality British actresses (Emily, look on Keira Knightley and despair!).
The Bad: Although funny at parts, the movie also has an unabashed sentimental streak that teeters a little too close to cheese. It doesn't quite tip over, but it gets close. Hanks is likable enough, but a bit bland. The only time he really comes to life are in the scenes with his dad, Tom, who drops in to play his character's father in a nice bit of stunt casting.
Zahn and Forgotten: A weird little subplot involving Steve Zahn as a handlebar mustache life support system tasked with driving Howard around ends up really going nowhere and seems like a pointless detour in the movie. Could have used an edit.
Theater, DVD, or TNT in five years? A rental recommendation on the strength of Malkovich's performance alone.
The Skinny: A confused young man (Colin Hanks) decides he's living his father's dream more than his own and drops out of law school. Looking for work, he takes a job as the personal assistant to a once-famous but no less egotistical "mentalist" named Buck Howard (John Malkovich).
The Good: Malkovich! His Buck Howard is all toothy grin and violent handshake, and it's really a great comedic character. The movie rests on his shoulders and whenever he's onscreen it all clicks. This isn't a "laugh out loud" movie, however. It's just pleasantly amusing throughout. And Emily Blunt is adorable and funny, which has us hoping she'll avoid the stuffy, self-serious corset dramas that seem to ensnare quality British actresses (Emily, look on Keira Knightley and despair!).
The Bad: Although funny at parts, the movie also has an unabashed sentimental streak that teeters a little too close to cheese. It doesn't quite tip over, but it gets close. Hanks is likable enough, but a bit bland. The only time he really comes to life are in the scenes with his dad, Tom, who drops in to play his character's father in a nice bit of stunt casting.
Zahn and Forgotten: A weird little subplot involving Steve Zahn as a handlebar mustache life support system tasked with driving Howard around ends up really going nowhere and seems like a pointless detour in the movie. Could have used an edit.
Theater, DVD, or TNT in five years? A rental recommendation on the strength of Malkovich's performance alone.