Review

Review Date: 12-April-09
Spoiler Rating: Low
Juju Judgment: Juicy

The Great Buck Howard (2009)

John Malkovich has played his share
of off-kilter men with a lofty air.
In The Great Buck Howard these traits are there,
but it's sweeter than his usual fare.

I've read short stories which, though thin,
have a lot of heart firmly fixed within.
The Great Buck Howard is these stories' kin.
So summarizing, let me begin.

Colin Hanks, who's Tom's able son
(and whose dad appears twice, though on the run)
is a law school student who says "I'm done!"
and goes to find places in the sun.

He gets a job that's somewhat lame
as "road manager" to a man whose name
once carried a certain amount of fame.
The talent of magic is his claim.

Buck Howard graced The Tonight Show
sixty-one times (clearly not in a row),
yet that was a good many years ago,
now his limelight is an afterglow.

He's washed up, sure, but charm shines through.
While he gets snippy as performers do,
you like old Buck, to his art he is true,
and Hanks cannot help but like him too.

A new press rep (Emily Blunt)
arrives to lead the publicity hunt
just as Buck announces a grand new stunt
(off-hours, she makes Hanks pant and grunt).

Buck's fortunes lurch — O, fickle Fate!
One minute it seems to be far too late,
then before you know it he has a date
with Leno, object of his proud hate.

Through ups and downs Hanks gropes his way,
oft questioning why he chooses to stay:
'cause Buck has purpose, or, dare he say,
'cause the thought of magic makes his day?

Perhaps it's something in between,
a spell whose power comes off the big screen.
The Great Buck Howard is felt as it's seen,
its tone is light, its enchantment keen.

And Malkovich, part grinning clown,
part wizard, part child, has the role nailed down.
Though small, Buck's meaning of life is found
telling Akron, Ohio, "I love this town!"

Copyright © 2009 The Jujube (M. I. Kim). All rights reserved.