The Incredible Burt Wonderstone

First Hit:  Not very interesting, few laughs (except at the end) and difficult to care about the characters.

As much as the film tried to have the audience care about Burt (Steve Carell) and Anton Marvelton (Steve Buscemi) because they were picked on as kids, it never worked.

Watching their schmaltzy act in Las Vegas, I couldn’t see where anyone would come and see their act. Maybe if the acts were better, or maybe if there was another reason to care about them, it might have made a difference. But when watching a film and thinking “maybe if” to change the plot, there becomes the realization that there is something wrong.

The film picks up, especially in the absurdity arena, when Jim Carrey is introduced as Steve Grey a street magician who does very odd things including not going to the bathroom for an extended period of time – magic? Don’t think so but it is amusing.

For me the funniest bits were the scenes where they show moving audience members in and out of the theater.

Carell’s role was mediocre and he did his best with it. Buscemi was a little more interesting as Anton. Carrey was much more engaging in a very bizarre role – he was perfect for it. Olivia Wilde was OK in her limited and strangled role as magician’s assistant. Alan Arkin as old time magician Rance Holloway was the best part of the film from an acting point of view. Jonathan M. Goldstein and John Francis Daley wrote a week script that could really find something to focus on so that the audience would care. Don Scardino did an adequate job of directing this poor script.

Overall:  Waiting 90 minutes for the funniest parts (for me) was a waste of my time.

Yes Man

First Hit: A sophomoric film played by someone who graduated to adulthood a long time ago.

Jim Carrey reaches back to the type of humor that made him famous, over the top facial expressions, goofy dialogue and pratfalls. Carrey has tried drama based films and although he was OK, he never really made a mark as a dramatic actor.

Good comedic actors use more that odd facial expression, goofy dialogue and pratfalls. They use crisp funny dialogue, subtle expressions, and physical movement which can enhance a scene (Think Peter Sellers in Being There).

The problem with Carrey is that he’s getting too old to be limited to pratfall acting. In Yes Man Carrey plays Carl Allen a low level loan officer who says no to everything that comes his way. Because of this he spends his time alone and watching rented DVDs.

As his life is slipping away by alienating his friends by not being available he wakes up on day by going to a “Yes” seminar. During the seminar he makes a convenient with the leader to say yes to everything. While doing this he finds himself in funny circumstances which end up enhancing his life. Along the way he meets Zooey Deschanel who is a cute quirky girl who embraces life, just like the new “Yes Man” Carl.

One thing that didn’t fit was the lack of chemistry and comedic circumstances that didn’t work.

Although some of the circumstances and scenes were truly funny, the film was mixed with lack luster drama and funny bits. The movie seemed more like scenes patched together to make a film. Carrey is tiring in this type of role and I wonder what he’ll do next. Deschanel was cute and was more believable than Carrey.

Overall: Aside from a few big laughs, this form of comedy for Carrey has worn out its welcome mat.