Movies

The Incredible Burt Wonderstone

Alan Arkin (from left), Jim Carrey, Steve Carell, Michael Bully and Jay Mohr star in a scene from the movie “The Incredible Burt Wonderstone.”

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By turns charming and repellent, this comedy charts the rise and fall of a pair of superstar magicians (Steve Carell and Steve Buscemi) on the Las Vegas Strip. Competition arises from an outrageous street performer (Jim Carrey), who steals away the superstars’ assistant (Olivia Wilde) and threatens their Sin City supremacy. As directed by Don Scardino, the film seeks its laughs the conventional Hollywood way, via sexual innuendo or nauseating sight gags. Such sleaze – together with a morally flawed conclusion – obscures interesting commentaries on the wickedness of narcissism and a fallen idol’s potential path to redemption.

Watch out for: A benign view of drug use and contraception, much crude humor, sexual innuendo, occasional profane and rough language.

Rated: The Catholic News Service classification is L – limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 – parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

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