How a Fading Mentalist Used a Failed Stunt to Reclaim His Lost Fame
In short: In the 2008 film The Great Buck Howard, a washed-up mentalist attempts a grand comeback that goes disastrously wrong. When the media abandons his show for a car accident, he seemingly loses everything. Yet, in a twist of fate, the absence of proof creates a legend that saves his career.
Directed by Sean McGinly and released in 2009, The Great Buck Howard follows the journey of a young writer, Troy Gable, who abandons law school to become the road manager for a fading mentalist named Buck Howard. The character of Buck is inspired by the real-life mentalist The Amazing Kreskin, whose popularity peaked in the 1970s. The film explores the fragile nature of fame, as Buck struggles to maintain relevance in an industry that has largely forgotten his signature feats.
The central conflict arises when Buck attempts a massive comeback stunt, promising to put dozens of people to sleep and awaken them simultaneously. Despite the ambition of the performance, the media is called away at the last minute to cover a car accident involving Jerry Springer. While Buck initially views this as a failure, the lack of actual footage allows rumors to inflate the scale of his act. This manufactured mystery transforms him into a retro-hip phenomenon, leading to appearances on shows hosted by Jon Stewart, Regis Philbin, and Conan O'Brien.
Despite his resurgence, Buck’s career remains volatile. He is famously bumped from The Tonight Show by Tom Arnold, having previously appeared with Johnny Carson 61 times during his prime. The film ultimately questions whether Buck possesses genuine talent or merely the charisma to sustain a myth. When he eventually fails to perform his signature trick—finding his hidden fee—in Las Vegas, his limelight dims once more. He eventually retreats to smaller venues like Bakersfield, where he finds comfort in the intimacy of his original craft, leaving his former manager to wonder if the magic was real all along.
Critically, the film was received with generally favorable reviews, holding a 71% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 94 reviews. While it grossed only $900,689 worldwide, the performance of John Malkovich as the titular mentalist was widely praised for giving the comedy a necessary sense of weight and charm.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: The Great Buck Howard
- Also: Wikidata — The Great Buck Howard · CC0
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/entertainment-the-great-buck-howard.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in Films · More in Entertainment · Latest · A–Z · All topics
