The Great Buck Howard (2008)

Directed by: Sean McGinley | 90 minutes | comedy | Actors: John Malkovich, Colin Hank, Emily Blunt, Ricky Jay, Steve Zahn, Tom Hanks, Griffin Dunne, Debra Monk, Adam Scott, Patrick Fischler, Wallace Langham, Jonathan Ames, Jacquie Barnbrook, Terry Scannell, Matt Hoey

Eternal fame is a fairy tale. To a large extent, it is the media that determine which artists deserve attention. At least this statement seems to hold true for the outcast mentalist (a sort of psychic magician) Buck Howard (John Malkovich). During his heyday he was a guest on the Late Night Show with Johnny Carson 61 times, by far the most popular late night show in America at the time, but now he has to rely on performances in half-full halls in goofy back places. Yet he remains firmly convinced that he is on the eve of a new breakthrough.

Who also believes in a breakthrough is Troy Gable (Colin Hanks), an aspiring writer who has just given up his law degree. Troy sees a golden future for himself once he gets around to publishing (read: once he manages to put pen to paper). But you can’t live off thinking about writing, so Troy decides to look for interesting jobs, at least to be able to support himself. For example, his eye falls on a vacancy as a road manager for a major celebrity. Writing is networking, so the decision is made quickly.

Despite the illusion created by the large sunglasses and the firm handshake that dislocates your shoulder, Troy soon realizes that there is little ‘great’ about Buck Howard. Yet he decides to work for the man and he is actually impressed by him during the performances. While most of his show is as cheesy as can be, the Great Buck Howard has one act that wows Troy time and time again. At the end of his show, he lets the audience hide his wages for the evening, while he himself is backstage with two spectators. Back in the hall he manages to find his money again every night: ‘Isn’t it amazing people!’

‘The Great Buck Howard’ is inspired by the persona of ‘The Amazing Kreskin’, a mentalist who caused a furore on American television in the 1970s. Director Sean McGinley worked for him briefly as a road manager, so he knows what he’s talking about. That is why it is not so strange that we experience the film from the perspective of Troy Gable (including voice-over). What is unfortunate is that Troy is really just a meaningless figure, a nitwit first-class. Plus, Colin Hanks plays him as an uninspired sack of potatoes. A trick that may have worked reasonably well in ‘Orange County’ (2002), but with which he completely misses the mark in this film.

Fortunately, much, much is made up for by the irresistible John Malkovich who gives Buck Howard’s character an unparalleled flair. The quirkiness of his temper, the mannerisms (the aforementioned handshake and, for example, the exclamation ‘I love this town!’ in every hamlet where he settles), everywhere Malkovich is completely believable, while his character is actually completely over the top. He is rightfully the big star of the show – you really get the feeling that you get to know the man (Buck Howard) better.

But that’s appearance. At the end of the film, you don’t know anything at all. Is it a trick of the Great Buck Howard, or does he really have a supernatural psychic ability? Like The Amazing Kreskin, he doesn’t give up his secret. Still it is a great pleasure to watch him. Anyone who is waiting for great life lessons will get away with it – Troy Gable has little to tell us. But if you want to enjoy a great actor in a reasonably successful comedy, ‘The Great Buck Howard’ is definitely at the right place!