Houdini

Many of his tricks here are explained, and the means of execution may only increase your appreciation for his genius. Less convincing is the miniseries’ speculation that the British intelligence agency MI-5 recruited him to act as a spy in the run-up to World War I.

In itself, Houdini’s script is solid.... However, whether Meyer-penned or network-mandated, the miniseries’ voice-over drains a critical amount of energy from the miniseries.

If only Houdini could have waved a wand and made half of this too-long miniseries disappear.

Houdini lacks emotional depth.

Brody’s performance is borderline capable within the constraints of an at best mediocre combination of writing and story construction. But Harry Houdini’s incredible story still awaits a master re-telling. And this one doesn’t even come close.

Houdini is so dense with awful dialogue--the kind in which every character says what they’re thinking and feeling in remarkably self-aware terms whenever they’re given the opportunity--that it buries the elements that actually work here, including a playful performance from Adrien Brody and the occasional sense of spectacle.

This is dour, grim and labors to get through a second act that clocks in a half-hour shorter than part one.