After breaking up with his longtime stage partner, a famous but jaded Vegas magician fights for relevance when a new, "hip" street magician appears on the scene.
A generic, fitfully funny mainstream comedy that doesn't nearly get the best from its name-brand players but doesn't qualify as a desecration, either.
– Ann Hornaday,
Washington Post,
15 Mar 2013
fresh:
This may be the kind of semi-bad, semi-inspired comedy that could not only stand repeated viewings but perhaps improve with them.
– Mary F. Pols,
TIME Magazine,
15 Mar 2013
fresh:
This comedy about a magician who must hit bottom before rising again to the wonder of his beloved craft pulls plenty of sweet moments and a slew of laughs out of a story that might have been thin air.
– Lisa Kennedy,
Denver Post,
15 Mar 2013
fresh:
The true comeback story in this fictional comeback story doesn't belong to a character named Burt Wonderstone, but to an actor named Jim Carrey.
– Bilge Ebiri,
New York Magazine/Vulture,
15 Mar 2013
rotten:
Since every funny moment here involves cynicism, arrogance, heartlessness, and self-destruction, you never believe the movie when it's telling you how nice and contrite these characters are.