Review: ‘The Great Buck Howard’

Tom:

Loosely based on 60’s pop culture staple The Amazing Kreskin, THE GREAT BUCK HOWARD is an endearing and hugely entertaining comedy centered around an epic performance by John Malkovich in the title role.

Colin Hanks stars as Troy Gabel, a wannabe writer and law school dropout (much to the chagrin of his dad, cameoed by Colin’s real Dad Tom Hanks) who answers a newspaper want-ad and becomes road manager for the once-famous magician/mentalist/illusionist Buck Howard (Malkovich). Howard’s “Great†� moniker was bestowed on him by Johnny Carson decades earlier when he was indeed America’s premiere mental magician (and, as he constantly reminds everyone, appeared on Carson’s show 61 times). Howard, a relic now way past his prime, is reduced to performing to small crowds in small towns, but is convinced a comeback is in the cards. His current act consists of a few card tricks, hypnotism, corny songs, and is always capped off by the signature trick of having his   appearance fee hidden somewhere in the audience and always finding it. After a trick putting 300 people to sleep at once, Buck Howard does indeed experience something of a return to fame (and Vegas) leading to fun cameos by Conan O’Brien, Regis, Martha Stewart, David Blane,and John Stewart ( all playing themselves). The heart of the film is the relationship between Troy and Buck as Troy learns about life and loyalty watching Buck practically force a career-making comeback and eventually fade back into obscurity. The young innocent navigating the washed-up celebrity as he clings to the fringes of show-biz reminded me at times of ED WOOD, and even more, MY FAVORITE YEAR.

THE GREAT BUCK HOWARD is carried by an excellent cast. Hanks, who I’ve found charisma-challenged in previous films (KING KONG especially), is very likable here in the same sort of good-guy everyman way his dad was in his earlier films. Emily Blunt shines in the smallish part of a sexy publicist who has a brief fling with Troy. But it’s Malkovich, with his “face you love to hate†�, obnoxiously aggressive handshake and corny slogans (“Isn’t That Wild?!†� and “I Love this Town!†�) who own this film. Whether name-dropping fellow fossils or creeping   everyone out with his confusing sexuality (he toasts buddy George “Sulu†� Takei with “May the Force be in You†�), Malkovich delivers a layered performance that ranks with his very best.

Hardly sympathetic, Buck’s often whiny, bitter, and condescending, but he’s got just enough funny quirks to still make you root for him. THE GREAT BUCK HOWARD never explores the tricks of the magician’s trade. Buck’s magic is simply accepted because he’s still devoted to his art even if opportunity has seemingly passed him by. There’s a hilarious running gag about Buck Howard’s vendetta against Jay Leno (or as Buck calls him: “Satan†�) because he’s never been invited on his show that has an unexpected payoff (and hey, wasn’t that Donny “Ralph Malph†� Most as Leno’s producer!?!).

Writer/director Sean McGinly is a talent to keep an eye on and I hope this film finds a wide audience. Part comedy, road film, character study, buddy film, and mystery (how he always manages to find that hidden appearance fee becomes the source of running speculation), THE GREAT BUCK HOWARD may or may not amaze audiences, but Malkovich certainly will. It’s a great performance and, I think, a great movie.

‘The Great Buck Howard’ [PG] opens today in Saint Louis and is playing at the Tivoli Theatre.

I’m not one to hand out 5 stars lightly, buy in the case of THE GREAT BUCK HOWARD, I’ll give it… 5 starsout of 5!