The Great Buck Howard, 2008 - Movie Review

Director: Sean McGinly
Starring: John Malkovich, Colin Hanks, Emily Blunt, Tom Hanks, Tom Arnold, Griffin Dunne
Running Time: 87 minutes
Score: 2 / 10

This review by Pamela Fruendt.

I saw a preview of THE GREAT BUCK HOWARD last night ( 3/18/09 ). The story is loosely based on the career of Master Mentalist 'The Amazing Kreskin.'

I had every anticipation of having a great evening...Great word out of Sundance. Great trailer. Free film. What could be bad about it?

Guess what? This film is so utterly disappointing. It is a cruel and demeaning look at aging performers unable to adapt to a changing world.

John Malkovich gives a moving performance as Buck Howard...After all, he is John Malkovich but he can't carry the film alone. Colin Hanks' acting is flat and uninspired giving the oh so talented Emily Blunt mere crumbs with which to work.

Even Colin's real life father, Tom Hanks, can't save this film despite a moving yet all too brief appearance .

See the film if you're a Malkovich fan...otherwise wait for cable or DVD. I've seen the Amazing Kreskin myself and this film does him a tremendous disservice.

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