Burt Wonderstone (Steve Carrell) and Anton Marvelton (Steve Buscemi) have come a long way since their childhood days as best friends and social rejects in school. They've created a magic act that has propelled them to superstar status as headliners in Las Vegas. But now they are just going through the motions, and their fan base is diminishing. The joy has vanished from their friendship, and they squabble after every show. While Burt lures new women to his expensive bed that could sleep twelve, Anton tries to come up with an act that will draw the younger audience that is enthralled with the risk-taking street magician Steve Gray (Jim Carrey). Gray has the same kind of fans as Quentin Tarentino — they love extreme violence and the sight of blood and gore.

Wonderstone's boss Doug Munny (James Gandolfini) is the fabulously rich and crass owner of the casino where the two magicians perform. He orders them to change their show or he will ship them out. But after a bungled effort to duplicate the thrills of Gray's attention-grabbing act, Burt and Anton are fired and decide to go their separate ways. Wonderstone plunges into a depression when he realizes that his fame, his job, and all his money are gone. Can he regain the authentic love of magic that enabled him to express his true creativity?

Don Scardino directs this rollicking comedy which is sustained by the funny sequences and the zany antics of Steve Carrell, Jim Carrey, and Alan Arkin who plays Rance Holloway, the magician whose "Magic Kit" inspired young Burt to embark on his career. With his help and the moral support of Jane (Olivia Wilde), a former stage assistant who affirms his "right stuff," Burt is ready to begin again.

This is a fun movie with some things to say about finding your vocation — something that you can do with all your heart — and sustaining it through love of the art and craft of it.


Special features on the DVD include Gag Reel: Incomparably conjured by Steve Carell!