guillaumerouy
The Brits can deliver regarding comedy at the cinema, no, no, i don't mean "Carry On... ". But i mean films like "The Full Monty". "Magicians" deliver completely. Despite some rude and bad language, highly forgivable, the whole thing is charming, cute, without any pretension and funny. Typical from the brits regarding the subject. I enjoyed it completely, and recommend it. If you like " The Full Monty", you will like this one. The actors, quite unknowed, do their part well. And there is not "space", no moment of waiting. It just delivers from A to finish. You won't laugh every seconds, but the over whole of the movie is funny. While I have been very disappointed with brits-com like "Love actually", one of the worst movie i have even seen in my life, the little budget "Magicians" manages far better. A nice surprise, wonderful. Thank you !
Jackson Booth-Millard
From the makers of Peep Show, and director Andrew O'Connor (who did magic as a kid, and has been executive producer of pretty much all Derren Brown shows) this isn't too bad. Basically Harry (David Mitchell) and Karl (Robert Webb) used to be two of the most successful magicians on stage, but it was after Harry discovered Karl and his wife (the act's assistant) having an affair, and then accidentally cutting off her head in a guillotine trick they fell apart. 4 years later, they have split and do not speak to each other, Harry is trying to get a job (possibly that could involve his magic skills), and Karl has reinvented himself as a Derren Brown type act, using thought suggestion and medium. When Harry sees an advert for a international magic contest with a cash prize of £20,000, he originally planned for Karl to help him with an audition, but they are obvious not to get on, and request to both be solo acts. Harry has found a new assistant in the ambitious Linda (Spaced star Jessica Hynes/Stevenson), and Karl has attracted a new naive, almost thick and easy-to-fool Danni (Andrea Riseborough). Both acts progress to the finals, but Harry still has his doubts of bringing back his guillotine act (and he still thinks of what happened last time), soon, Linda will feel the same, and Karl is struggling to keep convincing people he can do his thing. In the end, Karl loses his patience and storms of stage, but after Linda walks out, Karl helps Harry win the contest, and they get their fame back. Also starring Darren Boyd as Otto, Karl's agent, Steve Edge as Tony White, a fellow contestant, with his son Dwight (Rasmus Hardiker), Peter Capaldi as Mike Francis, the leading judge, Alexander Kirk as Dietmar and Tim Plester as Malky. The magic tricks are interesting and impressive, there are even some real magicians in the background, there are some good small giggles, but I can see why the critics give it two stars out of five. Okay!
fictional_void
Reading the other comments, made me laugh. Seriously, what did you expect? Peep show isn't laugh out loud funny and neither is this, yet it puts a smile on your face and perhaps an inside chuckle but hey, it was obviously no blockbuster comedy, but something to see on a quite date or with a couple of friends for those who have already seen Pirates of the Caribbean, Spiderman 3 or any other major movie.I found it enjoyable, especially the who concept of him having chopped his wife's head off (A little morbid yes, but a good idea.) The gay manager, and the whole 'medium' thing were original 'peep show' humour ideas, and it was good the fact that it was not totally about sex. (About 10 % wasn't) and we had a nice view of arse.So all in all, a good movie for a rainy day.
seawalker
"Magicians" has had mixed reviews in the UK. It's from the same producer/writing team as "Peep Show" (Andrew O'Connor, Jesse Armstrong and Sam Bain), and if you like "Peep Show", which I certainly do, I don't see why you shouldn't enjoy "Magicians" a great deal. I did. I thought that it was mostly really funny, with Mitchell and Webb playing variations on their familiar "Peep Show" persona's.It's very British. Set in dreary and mundane locations and all about the plight of losers and misguided dreamers. I cannot see "Magicians" even getting a release overseas, but it will go down a storm when it inevitably gets shown on British television, it's natural home.So, best bits? Jessica Stevenson's mental audition to the strains of Electric Six's "Gay Bar". (What a brilliant single that was.) Steve Edge's selfish and egotistical magician and his winner of a chat up line. His opening line to the Jersey crowd is a classic. Peter Capaldi's arrogant and sexist compere. The stooge demonstrating his "trip". Robert Webb's mentalist act. David Mitchell's heartfelt tribute to the woman he loves... and it's immediate retraction.Cracking stuff. Give it a go.