Magicians
Two bickering stage magicians turn a disastrous friendship breakup into an awkward fight for supremacy at a high-stakes magic contest.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Mild
- Complexity
- Simple
- Violence
- Mild
- witty
- awkward
- breezy
- lazy sunday
- comedy night
What critics said
Critics generally found the film mildly amusing and intermittently charming, but too slight, visually flat, and overextended from television into feature length.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The protagonists are rival stage magicians competing in a magic competition, with tricks and theatrical presentation driving the story.
Karl and Harry are defined by bumbling behavior, interpersonal friction, and the dry comic register associated with British television comedy.
The two competing magicians must confront their falling out after a guillotine mishap.
The former friends compete against one another in a formal magic competition while their unresolved conflict remains central.
Films like Magicians, and why
Peep Show: The Movie
british awkward comedy, workplace-style rivalry, and dry character humor
The Inbetweeners Movie
deadpan british ensemble comedy built around social embarrassment and failed ambitions
A Mighty Wind
show-business satire, eccentric performers, and backstage comic rivalry
The Festival
awkward friendship conflict and sharply understated british humor
Movie Details
- Director
- Andrew O'Connor
- Release Date
- 2007-05-18
- Runtime
- 90 min
- Rating
- 5.9 / 10 (77)
Cast
- Robert Webb
- David Mitchell
- Sarah Hadland
- Paul Mark Elliott
- Karen Seacombe
- Phil Nice
- Jessica Hynes
- Darren Boyd
- Miranda Hart
- Priyanga Burford
Common questions
- What is Magicians about?
- Two bickering stage magicians turn a disastrous friendship breakup into an awkward fight for supremacy at a high-stakes magic contest.
- What is Magicians like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Magicians as brisk, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as simple.
- Is Magicians violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Magicians as mild.
- What did critics think of Magicians?
- Critics generally found the film mildly amusing and intermittently charming, but too slight, visually flat, and overextended from television into feature length.
- Which films are like Magicians?
- Films with a similar feel include Peep Show: The Movie, The Inbetweeners Movie, A Mighty Wind, and The Festival.
- How long is Magicians?
- Magicians runs 90 minutes.
