Magicians

May 18 2007 By The Journal

In their heyday, Harry Kane (Mitchell) and Karl Allen (Webb) were the darlings of the magic circle, until the fateful night their assistant Carol - Harry's wife - lost her head in a tragic guillotine malfunction.

Fast-forward four years and Harry is forlornly clinging to the past by performing tricks while demonstrating The Vegetator Chef's Knife Set at his local hardware store. Karl is trying to reinvent himself as a mind reader with the help of his agent, Otto.

After his latest knock-back, Harry tentatively re-establishes contact with Karl, with the intention of reforming for the International Magic Competition.

The audition in front of egotistical head judge Mike Francis goes well, but the double act ends up bickering and in a fit of rage, both men enter as solo acts.

Verdict: Magicians harnesses many of the creative forces responsible for Peep Show, but as Linda says in the film: "Lighting doesn't strike twice." Mitchell and Webb don't seem at all comfortable in their roles, while the supporting cast includes a rogue's gallery of misfits and bigots.

The film conjures a premise ripe with comic potential, but breaks the spell by performing a vanishing act with the laughs. A grandstand finale at the magic competition confidently pulls a narrative rabbit out of the hat, but it's too little, too late.