Review of The Great Buck Howard (2008) by Thomas L — 04 Sep 2009

In writing and directing this, Sean McGinly was drawing from his own personal experiences working for the Amazing Kreskin. Sean's got quite a few scripts to his credit, and a few films as director, but none of them are as personal as this, nor as good (although I haven't seen everything he's written and/or directed).

This is a sweet movie, not great, but very competent, with lots of humor and heart. John Malkovich is perfect as Buck Howard. In a way he's sending up himself more than the Amazing Kreskin, making fun of his self-serious image.

But don't think this is all a send-up. It's obvious Sean has a lot of respect, even some awe, for what Kreskin does (or, per the nostalgia of this film, used to do). It was kind of funny seeing Tom Hanks cameo as his son Colin's father in the film.

I'd never seen them together before. Ironic as hell that Tom's character resented his son's pursuing his dreams at the expense of financial stability, since in real life that's just what Tom did.

You know who continues to impress me is Emily Blunt. That gal does everything. Since My Summer of Love her career has a caught a lot of steam. Oh and that George Takei bit where he plays himself having a reunion with Buck Howard on Regis and Kelly was hilarious.