Magicians [DVD]

After taking a fairly decent run up in superb voyeur-friendly sitcom Peep Show, David Mitchell and Robert Webb make the jump onto the big screen in Magicians, a Brit-com with just enough tricks up its sleeve to carry it out of fandom and into the mainstream. That said, fans of Peep Show will be pleased to see the duo's familiar character traits (uptight nerd and faux-cool layabout) very much in evidence. The story sees the pair recast as fading magicians Harry and Karl (Mitchell and Webb respectively), whose successful double act is brought to a somewhat sticky end when Harry catches Karl cheating with his wife, before accidentally guillotining her in front of a packed audience.

The aftermath sees Harry reduced to performing tricks in supermarkets, while Karl has the more humiliating task of establishing himself as a Derren Brown-style performer. But the chance to reclaim former glory presents itself in the form of a magic contest and, aided by the lovably hapless assistant Linda (Jessica Hynes) and fruity TV agent Otto (Darren Boyd), Harry and Karl dust off the guillotine for a head to head battle. Despite its modest ambitions, Magicians maintains a respectable pace and gag rate throughout. A great supporting cast help raise the bar, but the film’s appeal is largely down to its two leads, whose isn’t-broke-won’t-fix-it route to comic acting is effective and well judged. Magicians might not pack the belly laughs of a Hot Fuzz, but you’re never too far away from a chuckle or two. --Luke Mawson