Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #7244 in DVD
• Released on: 2007-09-17
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 87 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
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

Synopsis
Magicians is the feature film debut of David Mitchell and Robert Webb, best known for their groundbreaking and hilarious television comedy Peep Show. Magicians also marks the film debut of Peep Show's writers Jesse Armstrong and Sam Bain. Harry (Mitchell) and Karl (Webb) are magicians who have become one of the most successful acts in the business, with the help of Harry's wife as the duo's assistant. After discovering an affair between Karl and his wife, Harry accidentally causes a guillotine-related incident that has grave consequences for his wife. Several years later, a struggling Harry decides to enter a magic competition with a large cash prize. He recruits his enthusiastic if untalented friend Linda as an assistant (Jessica Hynes - nee Stevenson, Spaced) and persuades Karl to join him in attempt to win the competition, forcing the pair to try to put aside their differences. In the wake of 2006's magic based dramas The Prestige and The Illusionist, Magicians offers a welcomingly comic look at the world of illusionism. As the film features the stars and writers of Peep Show, much of the humour is the same, although it doesn't allow the audience to hear the main characters inner monologue, as is the case in Peep Show. There is much to appeal to both fans of Peep Show and people who haven't watched a single episode in this entertaining British comedy.

Customer Reviews

Endearing & delightful if not laugh out loud funny
Comedy duo Mitchell and Webb team up properly on the big screen for the first time, playing feuding magicians.

There's a witty premise here and plenty of opportunity to make fun of over-serious stage performers and, especially, recent magic-themed films. But the writers ignore that in lieu of more traditional TV-style gags, which must have seemed funny on the drawing board, and perhaps even on set, but fall a little flat on the big screen. It's not a total disappointment though with some comical set pieces, such as Linda's dance number audition, being oddly amusing but a few of the running gags, such as Otto's constant gay innuendo, never go anywhere. The only things that draw laughs are throwaway lines of dialog and daft performances.

Mitchell and Webb have terrific on-screen chemistry, so it's a problem that they're barely together in this film. They have completely separate plots, including two formulaic romantic-comedy storylines, and it's when they're together that the film finally comes to life. The final segment, set during the last round of the competition, is clever and funny and rather sweet, boosted by a hilarious turn by Capaldi as the top judge.

All in all, somewhat disappointing yet strangely warm & amusing. Think of Steve Coogan's PAROLE OFFICER as an example; not the split-your-sides-laughing you expected, but still entertaining and highly watchable.

"Together we were pure gold!"
I wasn't expecting much from this film after hearing so many negative comments about it - but I found it to be an enjoyable comedy.

It's never going to be ranked amongst the top comic films - but it does have some laugh out loud moments and Mitchell and Webb seem perfect for the roles. As the film is written by Jesse Armstrong and Sam Bain (the same writers behind the fantastic Peep Show), there's a comfy feeling of familiarity and the cast seem to gel perfectly.

As usual, David Mitchell is typecast as the gawky, socially awkward one - but that's no bad thing, it's something he does to perfection and it's how we all love to see him. And when he accidentally kills his wife live on stage in a botched guillotine trick, he and long-time-magician-stage-partner Karl (Robert Webb) go their own ways.

Much of the comedy comes from the recognition that the 'business' is looked down upon by many as a bit naff and tacky. The film never picks fun at the industry though - rather it celebrates it as we follow a bunch of Magicians through a national competition. Some of the jokes are running jokes and not particularly sophisticated whereas some have more depth and make quite an impression.

You can pretty much guess the ending, but that doesn't matter - it's the ending that you want and the film manages it with a good dose of sentimental depth without being too cheesy.

The additional features include a commentary (with is well worth watching to listen to the guys enjoying themselves watching the film!) and two behind the scenes videos. However - most of the footage used in the behind the scenes video diary is also used in the `making of' feature - so once you've seen one, you feel a bit cheated with the other!

In a nutshell: This is one of those films that you probably won't watch over and over again - but once you've watched it and you happen to catch it on telly a few months later - you'll stay with it and remember why you enjoyed it the first time round. It might not be the funniest film in your DVD collection but it's loaded with pathos and is essential viewing for fans of either Mitchell and Webb, or Jesse Armstrong and Sam Bain - or both! I was stuck between giving 3 and 4 stars, 3.5 isn't an option and I felt too mean opting for 3, so I've gone for 4 - though really if I'm honest with myself - a 3 is probably nearer the mark!

A cult film classic in the making.
20 years from now this will look like a classic. It is an incredibly dead-pan, dry, off-centre kind of film, not played for belly laughs. It is a minor film with some fantastic treasures lurking inside.

Mitchell and Webb stay close to their television persona but if you've never seen them before you will enjoy discovering their chemistry and their understated presence. They are though riveting to watch - such expressive faces and each with their own personal brand of geeky sexiness. Yeah; I think so girls...

Two brilliant, excruciatingly, cringemakingly funny scenes are worth the price of the film alone. A bedroom scene where hinging around one of the character's apparent psychic abilities; and also a sequence where a woman auditions with a dance sequence that would have Ricky Gervais running for cover. We screamed!

The magic is a strange one in this though. I loved the way some presumably top secrets are 'revealed' which is not surprising given that apparently the entire crew are banned from the Magic Circle! But as my dad and brother are magicians they were looking forward to catching sight of some of the world's greatest magicians who were convinced to have uncredited walk on and cameo parts. We barely caught a glimpse of them.

Apparently one of the top, top magic names of all time is an old guy called Patrick Page - but he just does a weird thing of crumpling a cigarette into his mouth. Then there is a legendary Indian magician but we just seem him in a short sequence (absolutely wondrous things with cards). Then Ali Bongo but he is only sitting down! He used to do all the Paul Daniels shows which were apparently big in the 1970s.

The main part of the film is at a magic competition where the world's top magicians are entering which is the excuse for the film makers to get all these famous magicians into one hall. But seems a shame we can't actually enjoy more magic which would have taken the weight of the script a little bit.

It really comes across that the director probably does not much like magic! Purely from how he makes all of them look like they are all absolutely bonkers - except Mitchell and Webb who are crazy in their inoffensive way!

But the story builds nicely to the climax of this magic comepetition and there many hilarious sequences there - unexpected events for a stooge, the compere's bittter and twisted asides, and a finale showing 'the present' which was also unexpected funny; all I will say is that there is dancing.

So well worth the investment for a future classic. Just shame we were not able to enjoy more magic. But I guess the point of the film was that it is NOT about enjoying the magic but enjoying the characters in that scene.

Letitia