A true judge-by-its-cover comedy, this is almost precisely what you'd expect from the trailer and/or promotional materials, for better or for worse. It's a light, predictable comedy with a few good laughs and a wealth of filler material.

Although Steve Buscemi and Jim Carrey appear in supporting roles, the spotlight is largely reserved for Steve Carell, who's merely okay as an out-of-touch, egomaniacal Las Vegas magician. Carrey is particularly wasted in his role, a Criss Angel-David Blaine hybrid that amounts to little more than a barbed punchline, and doesn't even receive the dignity of an endgame.

The film is at its most entertaining when Carell is insufferable, a snobby celebrity lost in his own self-image, but quickly loses steam when Carrey's grim not-quite-magic act forces him to wake up. The plot becomes fairly paint-by-numbers from there, with a tour of skid row and a telegraphed love interest (Olivia Wilde) lining Wonderstone's path to redemption, and navigates no sharp turns on its way to an empty happy ending. A good time-killer for a lazy weeknight, but not something I'd recommend to friends.