User reviews

This could be the story about so many "B" level celebrities, and is based on the life story of the "Amazing Kresken," The Great Buck Howard tells us that once you enter the field of entertainment, you might do anything to stay on top.

Buck Howard (played wonderfully cheesy by John Malkovich) is a "mentalist" who was popular on Johnny Carson's "Tonight Show," appearing 61 times. He is a classic 70s Vegas magician, doing fascinating tricks and metal feats of amazement. In all, he is a relic of decades past, entertainment without special effects and he still seems to think he is on top of the entertainment world.

Howard's career has has hit near the bottom, performing in such hotbeds as Bakersfield, CA and Akron, OH in front of partially filled small auditoriums. Still, he see's himself as a big time entertainer that is just not getting the break he needs to get back on top (much of which he blames on Jay Leno), in many ways he is a sad individual and does not get that the only people who enjoy him are almost as sad as him.

The story is told through the eyes of his traveling secretary, played by Colin Hanks, who is, himself, struggling with issues. He is battling his desires to become famous with his fathers (played by his real dad Tom Hanks)wish he become a lawyer. since he has no real talent (other than writing)he is breaking into entertainment the only way he sees possible.

This is a charming film, not something for those looking for action, a major love story (a minor one occurs between Colin and the beautiful Emily Blunt (best known as the 1st assistant in The Devil Wears Prada), or some major personal victory, although in the end, Howard does find what makes him happy.

This is a movie that likely describes the life of many "B" entertainers that are seeking to stay in a limelight that has moved away from them. it is simple and enjoyable.

What happens to famous people when their popularity dies out? If this intrigues you I would recommend you go sit down and watch The Great Buck Howard. It stars Colin Hanks, John Malkovich, Emily Blunt, and features Tom Hanks in a comedy about just that question.

The beginning of the film almost started off exactly like Orange County, another film starring Colin Hanks. Here he plays Troy, law student who has decided that becoming a lawyer just isn't what he was cut out to do. So he does what every young man decides at some point in his life to do: write. That's about the extent of the comparison to Orange County. The rest of the film is nothing like it (and that's a good thing).

Since writing doesn't quite pay the bills, he finds a job working on the road for the Great Buck Howard, played marvelously by Malkovich. Buck is not a magician but a mentalist. He appeared on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson 61 times, but since then hasn't done much. He now plays small town theaters across the country.

Hanks doesn't know anything about show business but soon learns that life with Buck can be both rewarding and degrading. After tearing through town after town, Hanks falls into a grove until his father, played by his real father Tom Hanks, catches wind that he left school to work for Buck. He is disappointed to say the least and nearly gets Colin to quit, but Howard manages to keep him on for his secret trick (or as Howard refers to them as "effects") to take place in Cincinnati, Ohio.

It is there we meet Hanks' love interest in PR girl Valerie (Emily Blunt). Buck is paraded around town by a pair of simple folk (Debra Monk and Steve Zahn) who try to make him feel as welcome possible. In doing so they nearly ruin the entire event. The rest of the film follows Buck and Troy as they try to resurrect Buck's career and bring him back to the Tonight Show and eventually Vegas.

This is a cute little film that has a lot of heart. Malkovich puts on a great performance as the aging mentalist, giving the character a much developed personality and history. We can see that years on the road have turned this man into somewhat of a nut job, but he can still put on a great show.

The script doesn't waver. Writer/director Sean McGinly does a fine job for his first big production. There is nothing flashy going on here. Just a basic film with an above average story. That's all I expected from this film. I knew Tom Hanks wouldn't put his name on just anything (he produces the film).

I don't see this film making too much of a splash. There's nothing really here that makes me say "wow!" Malkovich is probably the best part of the film, as well as the story. I wouldn't go out of my way to see it, but I'm glad I got to. I also look forward for more of McGinly's work. It looks like he has a knack for storytelling.

This film is about a young man who quits law school to become the assistant to a waning mentalist performer.

"The Great Buck Howard" has a unconventional beginning, with coloured subtitles helping to get points across. It is a fun way to start a film, yet the rest of the film has a vastly different tone.The title character Buck Howard is an unpleasant and mean guy, and yet somehow he strikes a chord with the viewers. He makes me sympathise with his misfortunes, and feel sad that his amazing acts get overlooked by the public and the press. I wanted Buck Howard to succeed in his tricks, even though he is unpleasant to work with.

I enjoyed watching "The Great Buck Howard".

The Great Buck Howard is an enjoyable film, with John Malkovick playing the title character to a delightfully eccentric extent, but not the lead. Colin Hanks plays the lead, a he is a confused law school drop who ends up becoming the personal assistant to Buck Howard, a mentalist whose moment of fame came during the Johnny Carson era on the Tonight Show. Colin's character spends most of his time being enamored with Buck's aura.

The film follows the two as they travel to various minor cities across the USA in hopes of Buck landing it big again. The film is enjoyable because of characters, the story constructed and unfolds in a fairly traditional manner but Malkovick, Emily Blunt, and Steve Zahn make the entire event worthwhile.

The only issues with the film are that writer-director Sean McGinly is a little too much like Colin's character, Buck seems like an enigma even to him. The story unfolds without letting the viewer get to know Buck, he remains a fairly distance character. The viewer likes and roots for Buck, but it is purely through the eyes of his personal assistant and not on our own. McGinly created a fun film with interesting characters but decided not to examine the story with the depth he could have.

The Great Buck Howard was an enjoyable movie but it missed it chance at being much more.

John Malkovich gives a terrific performance as a waning illusion artist who always gives more than the audience asks for even more elevated by the under-par showing of Colin Hanks. There is a cameo by Tom Hanks as Colin Hanks reel father and involves in an exchange with his son, though the junior has similar looks and mannerisms Tom shows why he is what he is in that short span.

Buck Howard (John Malkovich) is an illusion artist in decline and recruits a college dropout Troy Gable (Colin Hanks) as his road manager. Troy, though apprehensive about his new job and against the whim and wishes of his father (Tom Hanks) starts to tread the waters and soon gets drawn towards Buck all the while dealing with his eccentric and wild mannerisms. In the process he meets Valerie (Emily Blunt) and falls for her.

John Malkovich is not everyone's cup of tea and needs some time and exposure to get used to him. Once you do, he can be terrific. The screenplay is another star where Buck's life is carefully presented in pieces so an audience can make an informed judgment about what he does when he does. Colin Hanks though fits the role as an apprehensive young man dealing with an eccentric Buck, he doesn't push his dialogues and body language with confidence it needs in some sequences where he comes off as a little weak link to the narrative. Emily Blunt looks lovely and acts the same as she always does. Have I mentioned this before? She has done almost the same character in all her movies and damn I can't get enough. With a short runtime and that plays along with a nice soundtrack, it is a must watch for Malkovich's fans.

John Malkovich makes Buck Howard greater than he said himself to be.

Houdini was once approached by a student who told him, "I know hundreds of card tricks, how many do you know?" Houdini replied, "Five, and I have dedicated my entire life to learning how to entertain an audience with them".

Buck Howard is a dried up celebrity struggling for his last gasp of fame. Almost forty years ago, Johnny Carson gave Buck Howard the title "The Great Buck Howard" and it stuck. Unfortunately, those years have left their mark and Buck is no longer 'Great'. Despite his tired jokes, sappy piano clap-along songs and magic acts he manages to attract small crowds at far-flung venues in the middle of America. The performances are always "One Night Only", as there would never be enough seat-fillers for a second. So what is exactly that keeps him going?

Colin Hanks plays Troy Gable, a law school dropout looking for a detour to finally get the answer to what he is meant to do in life. Will be able to counsel him a unbalanced magician -or mentalist-?

Nicely done, this film is funny and likable. A modern story about life dreams, the fierce entertainment industry, and the sadness that hides behind a bad temperamental person. Every well-known actor that appears in this film,even if they play short cameo roles, plays an important part.

It's quite a gentle, unusual comedy, so morals behind this movie are hard to get. However, this is a good film worth watching and definitely should be shown as an example of outstanding acting from Malkovich to Star Trek actor George Takei.

As someone of an age to remember when The Amazing Kreskin was on Johnny Carson's Tonight Show, I thoroughly enjoyed this film. John Malkovich portrayed the mentalist in a much more amusing fashion than the real performer came across in my memory and I liked the way Colin Hanks brought memories of one of my fav movies--My Favorite Year---in his warm recollection of the entertainer he assisted to the screen. In both cases, the movies took a less critical view of the real person upon whom the depiction was based, Errol Flynn and The Amazing Kreskin.

I think the film would have been great if they cast someone besides Colin Hanks. He is undeniably mediocre in this role. He performance is flat and drab and when I see him perform I can not help but think how much better the scene would be if someone else starred. I don't have a problem with this kid trying to cut his teeth in acting but do we all have to watch him learn to act on film. Seriously does Colin's dad Tom Hanks have to manufacture films just so his kid can have and acting career. I know Hollywood is nothing more than nepotism as a business but when the actor really doesn't cut it it's all the more insulting to the public and shame on the director for not trying to get more out of him.

I just saw this movie at SIFF. It was well-cast and entertaining. Colin Hanks, Adam Scott, and John Malkovich were especially enjoyable to watch. It is a comedy, but it was written and performed in such a way that I cared about the characters. It was funny and interesting so time flew because I was engaged in the plot. It is appropriate and appealing to a wide age range, and I would have felt comfortable going with my grandmother or my 12-year-old cousin. I especially recommend this movie to families or couples who are just getting to know each other because it will give you something to talk about afterward without ever making you feel uncomfortable or embarrassed. It is not action packed but if you enjoyed "Lars and the Real Girl" or "Little Miss Sunshine," you will probably like "The Great Buck Howard."

Troy Gable (Colin Hanks) leaves law school which he hated. It was pushed on him by his father (Tom Hanks). He decides to write but he needs a paying job. He starts to work for mentalist Buck Howard (John Malkovich) who is famous for being on The Tonight Show 61 times, the one with Johnny Carson. He shakes hands really vigorously and his big trick is finding his money in the audience at the end of the show. When the cynical road manager Alan Berkman (Adam Scott) leaves, Troy takes over. In Cincinnati, they are joined by media publicist Valerie Brennan (Emily Blunt). A misunderstanding leads to a sudden resurgence.

It has some deeper moments but mostly it's a gentle, reverent view of this Buck Howard character. It could have been darker. Colin Hanks' nice everyman gets into the way of that. He's given a needed jolt when Emily Blunt comes in. She really should have stayed in the movie. It's not logical and the movie misses her when she disappears. Malkovich is something else. He is masterful. The only way better is to get an actor pass his prime and Malkovich is definitely not pass his prime. This is a wonderful homage to the old performers.

I really don't want to criticize this movie too much. So many people involved in this movie are people that I genuinely like. And I think that's true for nearly all of us; we like great talents like John Malkovich, Emily Blunt, Steve Zahn and Tom Hanks. Good people who have given us great work.

In this case, the real problem is that this is a boring story. I sat through the entire film with my wife and a packed house, and there was much squirming all around. There was something very amateurish about the movie, as far as the direction and writing, and it was terribly predictable. My wife said, "Why would they make this movie? It was so boring!" I wanted to disagree, because I'd give it a three while she gives it a q, but the truth is that this was like watching a bunch of people you like not have a good time.

Malkovich does his best to make his character more interesting than written, as does Emily Blunt who has the misfortune of being thrown in randomly and forced to do things just for the sake of story. Steve Zahn, who is always good, struggles to make his dull material interesting. In the end, they were all fighting against the same problem. This is a simple story with no conflict or tension or drama or comedy that telegraphs itself every step of the way. The characters are underwritten and uninteresting, and we're left with talented actors doing their best with weak material.

I would not recommend seeing this movie, even for free. It's not worth the time you need to invest. And I really wish that I didn't have to say that, because I really wanted to like this movie.

The Great Buck Howard is not a great movie, but it is sometimes a sweet movie. Deliberately pushing the nostalgia button, the film bathes in the lost star power of a once famous "mentalist" Buck Howard (John Malkovich), who best represents the simple days of magicians like the Amazing Kreskin (the inspiration for Buck's character). As with Kreskin, Buck once delighted the late night shows, Vegas venues, and small towns such as Akron, Ohio.

Troy Gable (Colin Hanks) drops out of law school to become a writer (his uninspired voice over narration notwithstanding), but first he becomes Howard's assistant, much to the chagrin of his father (Tom Hanks—yes, that Hanks and that real-life father). Troy gets plenty of material from his boss, a dime-store vaudeville diva who yet displays a self confidence and pride to help the most cynical of us see the need to push on in the face of adversity, not the least of which is becoming passé.

Along the way we might learn a thing or two about professional integrity, true grit, and the possibility of love in all the odd places. Troy seems to learn those lessons although Hanks so underplays it's hard to tell. Director Sean McGinly apparently can't coax anything more than dimpled smiles from Hanks, whose similarity to his dad is both physical and temperamental. "Bland" is another word that comes to mind although I found the younger Hanks more animated on the London stage.

More passionate is publicist Valerie Brennan (Emily Blunt, reminding us of egos in Devil Wears Prada), with whom Troy must work and love. But, hey, even Malkovich underplays for this one, although his aging egotist is still impressive with the actor's patented impatience and theatrical outbursts. It's just that the underwhelming script doesn't allow the principals to rise above clichés, and the framing device of the relationship between narrator and mentalist goes nowhere (As it didn't for Gatsby's Nick either, I suppose).

It's a small world of small town vaudeville, fading but eloquent about talent and the need to be who you really are. Not easy, that.

I have enjoyed every film by Malkovich I have seen and can now add this title to the list. In a way he mirrors the character in this one; very entertaining but not an A lister. Well so be it, Malkovich fills the gaps, 'takes up the slack' as it were with superb acting in a string of quirky roles. Note that once his career started with 'places in the heart' he has found work ever since.

In this film he mimics the real life career path of the Great Kreskin who I saw on television during the 80s. I do not know if Kreskin had a career bombing experience as depicted happening in the movie, but if he plays your town do yourself a treat and take it in. A very entertaining film, almost as much as actually seeing a mentalist's act. With a sudden twist and happy ending.

You try to find all kinds of reasons for wasting time watching a movie that, in the end, you did not like. And one of them is that if the movie was someone who actually existed, then it has reasons to be boring and unpleasant because it cannot veer too much from the truth.

It is, of course, a rationalization with no grounds whatsoever. One you wake up you realize that the movie was just plain uninteresting and maybe its agenda was something else that entertaining you, like for example to give a role to Tom Hanks' son, Colin Hanks. I don't know that, it's pure speculation. Maybe I am just mean spirited because I mustered the time and effort to watch a movie that did not seem so interesting in the first place only to find out that it actually wasn't.

I can't say the people involved did not try their best. The acting was good, the dialogues witty, only the subject was nothing I would have been interested in. And movies about quirky crazy people I've seen so many that I simply can't watch a film just for that reason alone.

Bottom line: you might like it, but my bet is you won't.

"The Great Buck Howard" is a film that is not for all tastes. Now this is really true of all movies...but particularly true of this one. I watched the film with my wife and about midway through it, she was done....and she left because she got bored with the story. In addition, the style film just isn't 'normal'...it's more like a character study than an actual movie...and much of it is because you don't particularly like the main character, Buck Howard.

Colin Hanks (son of Tom) plays Troy, a young man who wants to experience life and not his father's idea of what his life should be. So, he drops out of law school and takes a job as a road manager for a has-been mentalist, Buck Howard (John Malkovich). This does seem like a huge come-down and it's hard to discern WHY he would take such a job...especially because although Howard's skills are at times amazing, he also, at times, is a total pain in the butt. This story, essentially, is about the time the two work together...though exactly what it all means and a normal story arc aren't here in this story.

I think Hanks and Malkovich are amazing and their performances alone are reasons to watch the film. As far as the story goes, however, it was weak and I really am not sure what it all meant...if anything.

This was a very good comedy, well written and acted. The dialog was witty, the plot kept the pace going, and the character development was very good. Buck Howard (John Malkovich) is an "Amazing Kreskin" type magician who hires an assistant named Troy (Colin Hanks)to help him out while on the road, playing small venues in small towns. Troy is a law school dropout who decides to pursue a career in show business, against the wishes of his father (played by Tom Hanks in a brief role). Buck Howard had been a bigger star in the past, playing on Johnny Carson 61 times, but recently had been down on his luck.

Troy tells the story (Nick Carraway like) of Howard's life on the road, his unlikely comeback, and his fall back to earth. Along the way, we are introduced to Valerie, a publicity agent, excellently portrayed by Emily Blunt. Troy and Valerie become romantically involved, which makes Buck jealous, of whom specifically is unclear. Everyone in the movie seems curious as to Buck's sexual orientation: is he gay or not? Nobody knows for sure.

There were numerous cameo appearances by notable celebrities throughout the movie and Steve Zahn put in a hilarious performance as one of Buck's devoted fans.

This was a very funny movie, and I enjoyed it a lot. I'd recommend it to anyone who appreciates a good comedy.

"But I had learned from Buck that when you do the thing you love, somehow, magically, you find the money."

The Great Buck Howard is a slightly above average movie with an excellent cast. John Malkovich, Colin Hanks, Emily Blunt, Tom Hanks, Steve Zahn, and others all contribute to this "slightly based on a true story" movie about a traveling mentalist and a young man searching for what he wants to do in his life.

The movie is at various times sentimental, sad, and amusing. It's something that's worth a watch if you're a fan of Colin Hanks or John Malkovich, as both of them give good performances. Malkovich is an old-school entertainer who has been around for years and relives a shadow of his former glory by performing for small cities and towns across the country. Hanks is a somewhat aimless young man who just dropped out of law school and works as a road manager for Howard. Emily Blunt gets third billing as a love interest/plot device, but she also gives a fine performance. 

I found myself enjoying The Great Buck Howard, though it's not an amazing movie by any means. It's a pleasant (if slightly bland) way to spend a couple of hours, though, and I recommend it to anyone who is interested.

Much more of a Colin Hanks showcase than anything; though it was sneakily billed as a double-act with his father, old man Tom only pops in for about five minutes (literally appearing for a cup of coffee). Late in his schooling, Hanks the Younger discards his father's plans for the future and goes on a quest to find himself, eventually winding up as road manager to a tired, dated, has-been magician with an inferiority complex. John Malkovich is brash and colorful in that role, twisting the bitter old character into something flamboyant, tangible and complicated. Hanks is better than usual, too, and brews up some confusing chemistry with Emily Blunt in a supporting role. Outside of the acting, though, there's very little to praise: the film's tone bounces all over the place in desperate search of a connection. One moment it's quirky and jubilant, the next sappy and melodramatic - no transition. None of the characters really grow, or say anything of value - they just pace through life doing what they've always done, waiting for things to happen to them. Even the visual style floats all over the place, blown about on the director's whimsy like an autumn leaf carried away by the wind. Inoffensive, soft and identity-free, .

"The Great Buck Howard" is a near-perfect faux biopic that will have you grinning from ear to ear for ninety euphoric minutes. John Malkovich plays the title character, an ego-driven mentalist loosely based on the Amazing Kreskin. We're told that Buck had the moniker "Great" bestowed on him by none other than the late Johnny Carson himself after the magician appeared on the Tonight Show sixty-one times in the heyday of his career. The humorously named Troy Gable (Colin Hanks) is the law student (and narrator of the tale) who takes a pass on a promising career as an attorney to serve as Buck's road manager, a move that causes great consternation for the young man's father, nicely played in a cameo appearance by Colin's real-life dad, Tom Hanks.

Part inveterate con man, part grandiose showman and part purveyor of down home wisdom and folksiness, Buck Howard turns out to be the perfect instructor for a young man eager to become wise in the ways of human nature. Howard is what P.T. Barnum would have been had he been reduced to playing smaller venues, an entertainer par excellence who really knows how to work his audience for ego-gratification and profit - in short, a figure as uniquely American as the lone frontiersman or trailblazing entrepreneur. Howard probably believes only half of what he's selling, but it is that half that keeps him going in the face of declining popularity and ever-dwindling crowds. For Howard is just shy of turning into a has-been when, as if by magic, he finds himself unexpectedly mounting a full court media comeback.

A satirical and affectionate paean to the world of show biz and the bizarre creatures that inhabit it, "The Great Buck Howard" boasts a witty, flavorful script and stylish direction by the multi-talented Sean McGinly. The movie also features a lovely performance by Emily Blunt as a publicist and Troy's potential love interest, while a number of well known celebrities - John Stewart, Regis and Kathy Lee (or is it Kelly?), Conan O'Brien, George Takei and Tom Arnold among them - make brief appearances as themselves.

But it is Malkovich who grabs the material by the horns and runs with it. With his every gesture and facial expression, Malkovich turns the Great Buck Howard into a savvy combination of egotism, bravado, humility and pathos. One minute he's an impossible slave-driver, the next a paternalistic mentor - one minute a clear-eyed pragmatist, the next a dewy-eyed visionary and sentimentalist. It is Malkovich's ability to seamlessly meld all these contradictory traits into an instantly recognizable and utterly lovable character that ultimately makes "The Great Buck Howard" the richly entertaining experience it is.

...if it hadn't been directed by a writer. Sean McGinly was just too impressed with his own words to let the movie tell its own story. The constant, florid voice-overs were annoying and redundant. He did get good performances, however. And I think that if he'd been more critical of his own work he would have realized that the narration was totally unnecessary--his actors were telling us their thoughts with their eyes. There was no need for the tenth grade creative writing blizz blazz to be slopped on top of it. If McGinly is really going to make the move from writer to writer-director he might want to direct from someone else's script first, so he can get some more experience in cutting out the verbal fat and telling the story through visuals and dialog. Narration is death to movies (unless we're talking documentaries).

Colin Hanks Plays a young law school dropout who ends up answering an ad as road manager. Little does he know the ad is to work for Buck Howard or as Johnny Carson dubbed him "The Great" Buck Howard. Buck Howard is a faded mentalist (not "magician", please) who still goes on about his 61 Tonight Show appearances with Johnny Carson (he has a disdain for Jay Leno). He still thinks that he's big time though he's been playing small venues for years. Meanwhile, Hanks father finds out that he dropped out of law school and is none too happy with him working for Buck. Hanks father in the film is played by his real life father, Tom. The younger Hanks decides to stick it out because you feel that he believes in Buck though he may be difficult and deep down he knows its smoke and mirrors. Including one trick that astounds Hanks each time, at the end of the night Buck goes to the back and the audience hides his money; if he fails to find it he doesn't get paid. He's never not found the money. Hanks also knows Buck has an illusion up his sleeve something big, something that would really put him back on the map. Emily Blunt plays Buck's media liaison on the road who becomes Hanks love interest.

The Great Buck Howard is only so-so. It feels like it wants to be The Graduate meets Mr. Saturday Night. Malkovitch is the only standout thing about this picture. The cast is capable but bland. The end result is an uneven, unsatisfying film. The film seems to be missing a spark and as a result it feels like it meanders too much in its 90 minutes. It feels like a short film stretched to feature length.

Inspired by The Amazing Kreskin, Sean McGinly's 'The Great Buck Howard' tells the story of a fading celebrity mentalist and his travelling assistant. Buck still believes he's a star and is willing to do almost anything legal to stay on top. Egocentric he is, he's also very demanding, rude and inconsiderate towards his employees, blaming them for anything that goes wrong. McGinly's storytelling is very impressive. The film opens with Troy narrating his dream of what to become when he grows up while his dad pushes him to study law. He grows up. Quits law school. Decides to be a writer and then meets the mentalist. Right from the moment Troy meets Buck, the film focuses on their journey.

The writing is first rate. There are no forced filler subplots. Characterization, even of the supporting, is brilliant (which is crucial for a character-driven film). There's a very likable quirkiness about it. The humour works very well. The film kept me engaged all the way.

The modest execution is also well done. Cinematography and score are adequate.

John Malkovich is fantastic in the title role. This is a part that suits him to the T and he performs naturally all the way. Colin Hanks is equally superb as Howard's patient travelling assistant. The actor holds his own. Steve Zahn, Debra Monk, Tom Hanks and Adam Scott provide excellent support. Emily Blunt is decent.

'The Great Buck Howard's a delight to watch. Sean McGinly has made this film with heart and it shows.