The cast is all it has.

Feel good dramedy that is carried by the performance of Malkovich and the underrated Blunt.

Truly one of the most pointless and boring films I've ever seen. I've seen more pointless, and I've seen more boring but this one propels further away from entertaining or compelling than most films I've seen. It relies almost entirely on sappy sentimentalism, which in itself isn't very profound, unique, or lasting. It also seems a bit disingenuous. It's the kind of sentimentality you see from high ranking officials mourning a dead comrade in old Soviet times when you know damn well they had the person killed to begin with and never liked the person.

In The Great Buck Howard, Troy Gable (Colin Hanks) is a law school student who, in a bout of existential angst, quits school and lands a job as the road manager for the washed-up mentalist Buck Howard (John Malkovich) and winds up falling in love with a publicist (Emily Blunt) brought in to bolster Buck's flailing career. The premise is great, but the movie flounders by putting the focus on Hanks' drab character and his seemingly pointless romance instead of centering everything around Buck Howard, the only truly interesting character in the film. There are some laughs, but the flaccid script misses the mark more often than not. Malkovich's enthusiastic performance as the delusional and self-centered egomaniac is probably reason enough to watch, but the lasting memory that the film will have is probably the wooden acting performance of Hanks, who proves that acting talent is not hereditary.

This is not the movie I expected it would be with such a cast. The Great Buck Howard is far from great, in fact t's awful.

Wonderfully acted by an excellent cast, this oddball comedy is only compromised by its rather meandering screenplay (by director Sean McGinley). Colin Hanks - whose dad plays his screen dad - narrates how he gave up law school to work for has been mentalist Buck Howard (John Malkovich, brilliant). Emily Blunt, Griffin Dunne and others bolster the simple story, but it's Malkovich's show.

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.

Understated humor mixed with authentic emotion makes for a whimsical viewing experience.

Having watched the Amazing Kresgin on Johnny Carson. I found this movie very entertains and well acted.

John Malkovich+Colin Hanks+Emily Blunt+Steve Zahn+Tom Hanks = pa sto sakate poveke od ova :)

Not as great as the titular character ... maybe because the film doesn't parallel his story arch.

* Film is incredibly slow * Improves upon Emily Blunts arrival, but still not a lot to grip the audience. * John Malkovich doesnt seem at his best here, but still provides an adequate performance as the lead character

This dramatic comedy (or comedic drama) has many things going for it. First, it has a unique story. Second, it has John Malkovich. Third, it threads the subject of desire vs. happiness in a very subtle, yet touching way. Colin Hank definitely inherited his dads acting abilities. He is very convincing in his role of a confused, yet eager young man that want to define himself on his own. Tom Hanks plays his father in a non menacing, pushing, yet loving and protecting way. There are some movies that don't have anything particularly special to them, yet they are special for being honest in the way they handle the story. This is one of them.

Exceptional performance from Mr. Malkovich, and Colin Hanks is some kind of natural in this role.

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, I could see some potential bubbling away in this cauldron, but it's lost in the wash.

A movie about an old magician who wants to regain fame.

It was amazing, for the most part.

John Malkovich is like real Buck Howard, he is always very into his acting. Pretty enjoy to watch the leading like his

My son found this DVD in a bargain and it was a great buy. The film based in a real story of Buck Howards (John Malkovich) is well narrated by his assistant Troy Gable (Colin Hanks) who tries to discover his vocation after leaving the law school.

Malk is great, but the rest are lame.