THE MAGIC CHRISTIAN is a mess, which is a shame. The movie ranges from inspired to incoherent; overall it has nowhere near the consistency, or the collective punch, of Terry Southern's novel, which I think could have been a great movie.
Southern appears to have been unevenly served by Hollywood. His screenplays could be brilliant: DR. STRANGELOVE, EASY RIDER, and THE LOVED ONE, among others. But this and (much worse) CANDY, taken from his novels, lack the concision and skill of his other works. (Which is odd, considering he co-wrote this film.)
The novel "The Magic Christian" is a favorite of mine, and makes laugh out loud whenever I re-read it. It skewers American culture four ways from Sunday, but very cleanly: Southern jabs the blade in just far enough to draw blood, and keeps us laughing as we squirm.
The movie lacks just this quality, and sort of goes bonkers in the '60s counterculture sense-- it's a bit depressing, because you get the feeling the director expects us to be dropping acid while we're watching it. (And why transfer it to England?) Although Southern's place in the counterculture is established, the book had no such trippy excesses; in the movie you may be dismayed to see the point disappearing under the waves.
Still, this is not meant to be a pan. Sections of the movie are wickedly hilarious, whether taken from the book (the dog show is a highlight) or invented for the film (Laurence Harvey's Hamlet made me laugh helplessly, and the art auction isn't bad either). It's worth a look, though your tolerance for '60s style will undoubtedly affect your response. But if you do watch it, I urge you to give the book a try as well, for comparison's sake if nothing else, and possibly happen across the great satirical film that was never made.
Southern appears to have been unevenly served by Hollywood. His screenplays could be brilliant: DR. STRANGELOVE, EASY RIDER, and THE LOVED ONE, among others. But this and (much worse) CANDY, taken from his novels, lack the concision and skill of his other works. (Which is odd, considering he co-wrote this film.)
The novel "The Magic Christian" is a favorite of mine, and makes laugh out loud whenever I re-read it. It skewers American culture four ways from Sunday, but very cleanly: Southern jabs the blade in just far enough to draw blood, and keeps us laughing as we squirm.
The movie lacks just this quality, and sort of goes bonkers in the '60s counterculture sense-- it's a bit depressing, because you get the feeling the director expects us to be dropping acid while we're watching it. (And why transfer it to England?) Although Southern's place in the counterculture is established, the book had no such trippy excesses; in the movie you may be dismayed to see the point disappearing under the waves.
Still, this is not meant to be a pan. Sections of the movie are wickedly hilarious, whether taken from the book (the dog show is a highlight) or invented for the film (Laurence Harvey's Hamlet made me laugh helplessly, and the art auction isn't bad either). It's worth a look, though your tolerance for '60s style will undoubtedly affect your response. But if you do watch it, I urge you to give the book a try as well, for comparison's sake if nothing else, and possibly happen across the great satirical film that was never made.