Let's be real: this movie bombed for a reason. A 37% critic score and 33% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes is rough—people actively disliked it. The premise had potential (Vegas magic, Steve Carell, redemption arc), but the execution is reportedly stale, predictable, and just not funny.
The protagonist spends most of the film being a jerk, which makes it hard to root for him. The jokes don't land. The magic isn't magical. It's the kind of movie that disappears from your memory about as fast as a card trick.
If you're looking for a comedy about reinvention or friendship, there are dozens of better options. If your kids want magic, show them Now You See Me or even a good magic documentary. This one's a skip unless you're literally scrolling HBO Max at 11pm and have already watched everything else twice.




