Magicians (2007)

29% of critics liked it
(7 reviews)
40% of users liked it
(6,479 ratings)

The team behind the cult Channel 4 sitcom Peep Show makes the leap to features with this comedy concerning a pair of feuding magicians. When their long-running double act ends in disaster, the pair employs every power at their disposal to make each other's lives unbearable. Andrew O' Connor directs… More The team behind the cult Channel 4 sitcom Peep Show makes the leap to features with this comedy concerning a pair of feuding magicians. When their long-running double act ends in disaster, the pair employs every power at their disposal to make each other's lives unbearable. Andrew O' Connor directs a script penned by Jesse Armstrong and Sam Bain, and Peep Show regulars David Mitchell and Robert Webb star as the warring wizards. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 30 min.
Directed By: Andrew O'Connor
Genres: Comedy

In Theaters: May 18, 2007 Wide
Studio: Universal Pictures

Critic Reviews

Leslie Felperin, Variety
Perky turns from supporting thesps can't compensate for the sense that this plays like an attenuated TV episode.
Matthew Turner, ViewLondon
Something of a disappointment, due to a poorly conceived script and an underdeveloped plot.
Phelim O'Neill, Guardian [UK]
O'Connor's direction has absolutely zero visual flair, making the performers' transition from television to film rather pointless.
Caroline Westbrook, BBC
t's a perfectly agreeable way to while away an hour and a half -- but don't expect to remember much about it in the morning.
Wendy Ide, Times [UK]
It's a cruel, mean-spirited kind of humour that highlights the lack of anything resembling real wit in the screenplay.
Olly Richards, Empire Magazine
The bumbling charms of the stars just about pull this through, but there'll be few calls for an encore come the final curtain.
Rich Cline, Shadows on the Wall
While it's endearing and occasionally inspired, it's just not funny enough.

Read all 7 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Anthony L

Not Mitchell & Webb at their best I have to say but it?s not all bad! Steve Edge and Jessica Stevenson (or is it Hynes now) aside, they are let down by a poor supporting cast, even Peter Capaldi was a bit of a letdown and he's always funny! The main problem though is that… More
Not Mitchell & Webb at their best I have to say but it?s not all bad! Steve Edge and Jessica Stevenson (or is it Hynes now) aside, they are let down by a poor supporting cast, even Peter Capaldi was a bit of a letdown and he's always funny! The main problem though is that there isn't enough big laughs, just little titters scattered around. The script is punchy but full of really tedious bits. I guess it?s entertaining enough but I expected better from the funniest comedy duo in the last 30 years! A real wasted opportunity (It?s should have been much darker)!
Film C

I love mitchell and webb i find them so funny and love there shows so i was excited about the movie but its not as funny as id of hope Its funy and silly and the storyline is good and sort of heartwarming and is a good movie but i thinjk it could of or should of been better !! worth… More
I love mitchell and webb i find them so funny and love there shows so i was excited about the movie but its not as funny as id of hope Its funy and silly and the storyline is good and sort of heartwarming and is a good movie but i thinjk it could of or should of been better !! worth a watch though! David mitchell plays a magician whose an act with robert webb but when mitchell accidently chops his wife head of his career is in tatters and whilst his partner who was cheating on mitchell wife carrys on with his career , its an ok film but bug fans of mitchell and webb may be disappointed!
Phil H

Another film with average reviews and another film I liked. I'll be honest its not great and its kinda Peep Show in movie form, which for most will be enough for a good night in. Watching you just cant help but think of Mark and Jez from Peep Show, its pretty funny in places and… More
Another film with average reviews and another film I liked. I'll be honest its not great and its kinda Peep Show in movie form, which for most will be enough for a good night in. Watching you just cant help but think of Mark and Jez from Peep Show, its pretty funny in places and like PS both Webb and Mitchel work so well together. The whole magic idea is wearing abit thin now after The Prestige and the Illusionist but this still works, there's a great kind of cheap, Bottom style lunacy to the whole thing which is really appealing. Supporting acts are good too, dont know all the names but looney girlfriends and other magicians such as the swearing father of the young upcoming boy magician are great and raise a giggle. The laughs are all toilet humour, sex, tits, nudity, crass swearing..all very British The ending is predictable and the story is sweet, the whole thing being kinda cheesey, but I think it works and quite simply if you like Peep Show you'll like this. A typical British dirty comedy much like our best comedy sitcoms :)
Kylie B

Mitchell and Webb are basically the same characters as usual, and just as funny, but the real treat are the secondary characters, some of whom are excellent.
Gordon A

Witty tail of magicians which is really an excuse to showcase the best in british comedy talent and writing.
Marcus W

Two comedians are successful on TV and so they make a feature film - it's now a standard. This film does definitely have it's laughs, and the whole "rival magicians" spiel is always a watch. Sadly, the best laughs come from the two female leads ("he's… More
Two comedians are successful on TV and so they make a feature film - it's now a standard. This film does definitely have it's laughs, and the whole "rival magicians" spiel is always a watch. Sadly, the best laughs come from the two female leads ("he's started drinking again" made me piss myself) as the guys too often resort to peurile jokes for an easy laugh even though there are occasions in this film where they prove to be very funny without doing so. True fans will probably love it more.