- Release Date: 2009
- Runtime: 90 min
- Genre: Comedy, Drama
- Starring: John Malkovich, Colin Hanks, Emily Blunt, Ricky Jay ... see all
- Director: Sean McGinly
- Plot: When a law school dropout answers an advertisement to be a personal assistant he unknowingly signs on to work for a belligerent has-been magician struggling to resurrect his career. This... Read more
User Reviews
Enjoyable comedy drama based on the career of 'THE AMAZING KRESKIN''
Jul 23, 2009
Jay Harris - imdb.com
Jul 23, 2009Jay Harris - imdb.com
The Amazing Kreskin was a fairly good vaudeville type entertainer, This film is somewhat based on his career. John Malkovich is Buck Howard,The character is portrays is a vain, egotistical,not very likable person. Malkovich is excellent in the role. Colin Hanksis... Full review
Colin Hanks is flat and uninspired in this otherwise decent film.
Jul 22, 2009
bruce-273 - imdb.com
Jul 22, 2009bruce-273 - imdb.com
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... Full review
The Mediocre Sean McGinly
Jul 21, 2009
rhinocerosfive-1 - imdb.com
Jul 21, 2009rhinocerosfive-1 - imdb.com
This movie manages to cruelly belittle nearly every cliché it observes - a host of Gary Colemanesque has-beens, including Gary Coleman; the chitlin circuit and its yokel boosters; bimbo TV personalities; indifferent agents; callous journalists: yawn. The one hackneyed element this... Full review
Enjoyable
Jun 13, 2009
Gordon-11 - imdb.com
Jun 13, 2009Gordon-11 - imdb.com
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... Full review
You think you've failed at life? Buck Howard will show your path
May 30, 2009
la_fleur - imdb.com
May 30, 2009la_fleur - imdb.com
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... Full review
Not Entertaining
May 24, 2009
Amari - yahoo.com
May 24, 2009Amari - yahoo.com
Why on earth did the billing have "Starring" Tom Hanks when his role was a cameo at best. John Malkovich dominates the movie being, well, John Malkovich. This was not at all a compelling movie and hardly rates the grades it... Full review
"I love this town!"
May 23, 2009
moviemanMA - imdb.com
May 23, 2009moviemanMA - imdb.com
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... Full review
Slight and predictable, but quite enjoyable
Apr 30, 2009
tarmcgator - imdb.com
Apr 30, 2009tarmcgator - imdb.com
John Malkovich is the heart of THE GREAT BUCK HOWARD, and he's the principal reason for seeing this slight but very enjoyable film. An entertainer whose "mentalist" act has grown stale, Buck Howard is playing to half-filled houses in small cities,... Full review
A solid solid film.
Apr 25, 2009
RY33 - yahoo.com
Apr 25, 2009RY33 - yahoo.com
A solid enjoyable character driven film. You never grow tired of the characters or the story and it gives you a very satisfying end.... Full review
The Pretty Good Buck Howard
Apr 03, 2009
Nicole - yahoo.com
Apr 03, 2009Nicole - yahoo.com
A small artsy movie about how small performances for small audiences may be just as valid and meaningful as performances for big audiences. Who cares if the tricks, oops, I mean "effects," are fake or real? (And they may be real.)... Full review
Critics Reviews
| Jul 31, 2009Norwich Bulletin
Buck Howard' a darn good film....However, it is a darn good film....that makes "The Great Buck Howard" such an entertaining little movie.....Posted Jul 31, 2009 @ 12:11 PM Despite the adjective in its title, "The Great Buck Howard" is not a great film..... ... Full Review
| Jul 25, 2009Monsters and Critics
It was a wonderful film that I thoroughly enjoyed.....A wonderful film and character study from beginning to end.....lifted my spirits with its whimsical tale of faded glory and second chances.....The Great Buck Howard certainly lives up to his title as the film is a great one..... ... Full Review
| Jul 21, 2009Just Press Play
a 10 minute "Behind the Scenes" featurette, a 5 minute HD Net commercial that highlights the film and acts as an ad;....The production values are fine but the thin script almost fools the viewer into thinking he's watching a TV movie....driven by an appealing performance from John Malkovich, Buck Howard is watchable but neither particularly engaging nor emotionally effecting.....a standard commentary with director Sean McGinly and Colin Hanks discussing the film;.... ... Full Review
| Apr 16, 2009Paste Magazine
totally straight, genuinely entertaining John Malkovich is magnificently magnanimous as The Great Buck Howard 's titular mentalist-not-magician.....Family friendly (or at least seriously PG), the film is also utterly formulaic and totally safe, right down to the love interest (Emily Blunt's spot-on Valerie)..... ... Full Review
| Apr 10, 2009Orlando Sentinel
The Great Buck Howard is a pleasant enough comedy in the My Favorite Year mold.....Hanks the younger is more competent than charismatic..... ... Full Review
News
The Great Buck Howard
deseretnews.com –
2009-04-15
The Great Buck Howard
paloaltoonline.com –
2009-04-10
SCOTT EYMAN ON FILM: Thoughts on movies from our 'Culture Club' blogger
palmbeachpost.com –
2009-04-05
The Great Buck Howard isn't going to change anybody's life, but I enjoyed it because of that, not in spite of it. It's a character study - somewhere between Broadway Danny Rose and Death of a Salesman - of a... ... Full Article
Movie review: The Great Buck Howard
pegasusnews.com –
2009-04-03

The Great Buck Howard Official HD Trailer On VOD 2/20 and In Theatres 3/20
The Great Buck Howard - trailer
The Great Buck Howard Official Trailer
The Great Buck Howard Trailer