Customer Reviews

Penn & Teller - Off the Deep End

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

P&T continue their tradition of doing tricks and revealing how they're done. The trick where they produced a card in an astonishing manner showed you just how much preparation goes into a trick. From the very start, where they show you how something went wrong during one of their tricks, to the end, where they vanish a submarine, this is good P&T.

The part I liked best was seeing just how well-trained a dolphin can be. The only part I didn't like was Aaron Carter singing the Penn & Teller theme song.

(Note: this was *not* an infomercial for the resort. Yes, they shot some tricks there, but they were also on other islands.)

One reviewer called this an "infomercial" for the Atlantis resort. I've got the DVD and, darn, I can't seem to find the bit where Penn & Teller give package rates and show the size of the rooms...

Seriously (and shots of Atlantis notwithstanding), if you enjoy Penn & Teller you'll certainly enjoy seeing them subversively dressed in business suits in a tropical vacation climate, as they bother and bewilder the resort guests. Sometimes you've just got to go a fancy shmancy place like Atlantis, to do that.

It was a largely underwater magic show. The promotional bits, music, and Penn's voice were annoying.
Some traditional illusions, performed underwater. They did a "pick a card" trick with a surprisingly large number of people at the beach. One of the underwater illusions was timed to Aaron Carter's singing (also annoying, but less so than the commercial break music). One of the coolest bits had Teller straitjacketed and shut in a box, to be lowered into shark infested waters. There was even a trick involving trained dolphins.
The big finish was making a real submarine disappear before a large audience of divers.
If you get this DVD, you should probably fast-forward through the promos, as they are really annoying, particularly the music.

Great show by the legendary Penn & Teller. They go through various tricks and illusions, exposing afterwards how they did them. The focus of the show is of course the underwater illusions and tricks, but interspersed throughout are tricks done on the beach. The illusions are (as always) amazing and entertaining, with Penn keeping the comedy flowing throughout. Aaron Carter also appears to sing a Penn & Teller song whilst both are doing a trick underwater. The two main events are; making an 80 ton submarine disappear and Teller pulling a disappearing/survival act in a pool of sharks.

This is not an Atlantis infomercial or advertisement. They mention it once or twice, but its in passing comment just revealing where all is taking place.

The only problem I have with this DVD is the editing. Maybe its personal preference but I would have preferred if the lead-ups to the ad breaks were removed. A 30-45 second preview of what is coming up after the break just gets tiring and frustrating straight away; I bought the DVD, of course I'm going to watch it, so please stop showing me clips of footage from the main event tricks to entice me to stay tuned...

Also at the beginning, there is a really long intro into the show, that feels like its going on forever. I know I can fast forward through it, but it seems pointless.

Its merely DVD issues and if my two main gripes are regarding promo issues on the DVD, then obviously I dont have much to complain about; the show itself is immense and hilarious, an hour and a half long, with one or two impressive extras. If you're a Penn & Teller fan, you will love this.

Don't get me wrong; I'm a major fan of Penn and Teller. I have all of their books, and I think their Showtime production "Bulls*it" is great.

But I watched this program when it aired on regular television, and I'm disappointed to report that it's mostly a commercial for the tropical Atlantis resort, pitched by Penn and Teller. Sure, they perform some impressive tricks, and yes, there are a few funny scenes. But it was painfully clear that the production was foremost a promotional device for the Atlantis resort.

As an alternative, I highly recommend Penn & Teller's Magic and Mystery Tour.