login/register

From the hottest new British comedians Mitchell and Webb and the creators of the award-winning 'Peep Show' comes MAGICIANS - a hilarious new British comedy set in the world of stage magic. Lifelong friends Harry and Karl (David Mitchell and Robert Webb) are the greatest magic double act in the country. But after a guillotine illusion goes horribly and spectacularly wrong, their friendship and their careers are finished. Now, down on his luck and out of cash, Harry sets his sights on the prize money of the prestigious 'International Magic Shield' tournament. But to win he will have to compete against the world's oddest (and saddest) magicians - including his deadly rival Karl, performing under the guise of ridiculous psychic 'The Mindmonger'. Can new tricks and a new assistant (Jessica Stevenson from 'Confetti' and 'Spaced') help Harry to triumph over his underhanded opponents and his disastrous past?

I wasn't expecting much from this so was pleasantly surprised that it had me chuckling throughout. Not a comedy classic, but watchable and enjoyable from start to finish.

After taking a fairly decent run up in superb voyeur-friendly sitcom Peep Show, David Mitchell and Robert Webb make the jump onto the big screen in Magicians, a Brit-com with just enough tricks up its sleeve to carry it out of fandom and into the mainstream. That said, fans of Peep Show will be pleased to see the duo's familiar character traits (uptight nerd and faux-cool layabout) very much in evidence. The story sees the pair recast as fading magicians Harry and Karl (Mitchell and Webb respectively), whose successful double act is brought to a somewhat sticky end when Harry catches Karl cheating with his wife, before accidentally guillotining her in front of a packed audience.

The aftermath sees Harry reduced to performing tricks in supermarkets, while Karl has the more humiliating task of establishing himself as a Derren Brown-style performer. But the chance to reclaim former glory presents itself in the form of a magic contest and, aided by the lovably hapless assistant Linda (Jessica Hynes) and fruity TV agent Otto (Darren Boyd), Harry and Karl dust off the guillotine for a head to head battle. Despite its modest ambitions, Magicians maintains a respectable pace and gag rate throughout. A great supporting cast help raise the bar, but the film?s appeal is largely down to its two leads, whose isn?t-broke-won?t-fix-it route to comic acting is effective and well judged. Magicians might not pack the belly laughs of a Hot Fuzz, but you?re never too far away from a chuckle or two. --Luke Mawson

	Enter your search terms Submit search form
	Web www.filmcritique.co.uk