‘Burt Wonderstone’ could vaporize if ‘The Call’ dials up biz

“The Incredible Burt Wonderstone� would have to pull a rabbit out of its hat to avoid a disappearing act at the box office.

Despite its bigger budget and higher-profile cast, the magic comedy starring Steve Carell and Jim Carrey will have to fight against the thriller “The Call� for the weekend’s runner-up position.

As for the No. 1 spot?

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It will almost certainly be claimed once again by “Oz: The Great and Powerful,� according to those who have seen pre-release audience surveys. After debuting with a robust $79.1 million, the PG-rated 3-D film is expected to rake in at least $40 million during its second weekend in release as a handful of school kids are now on spring break.

Meanwhile, both “Burt Wonderstone� and “The Call� are likely to start off with around $15 million. For weeks, it seemed that “Wonderstone� had the edge over the Halle Berry kidnapping film, but African Americans have recently expressed so much interest in “The Call� that the movie may perform better than initially thought.

“Wonderstone� follows a burned-out, old school Las Vegas magician (Carell) who faces a threat from an edgier street performer (Carrey). While a $15-million opening would normally be considered lackluster, Warner Bros.’ New Line division only spent $32 million to produce the film.

So far, the movie hasn’t received particularly warm reviews, but if audiences like it this weekend, it could generate enough buzz to become a decent performer for the studio. New Line is in need of some good news, as the company is primed to lose tens of millions after its near-$200-million “Jack the Giant Slayer� movie flopped at the box office earlier this month.

After his more recent dramatic turns in films like “Hope Springs� and “Seeking a Friend for the End of the World,� Carell is also returning to broader comedy with “Wonderstone.� The 50-year-old veteran of “The Office� has proven to be a relatively reliable box office draw over the last decade, finding the most success as a leading man in 2008’s “Get Smart.� That action comedy, co-starring Anne Hathaway, sold $230 million worth of tickets worldwide.

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“The Call,� meanwhile, stars Berry as a 911 operator trying to rescue a young girl (Abigail Breslin) who has been abducted. Sony Pictures’ TriStar label acquired the $15-million film from production company Troika Pictures in late 2012.

The picture could prove to be a modest win for Berry, whose personal life has been in the news more than her professional one since she won a best actress Oscar for her performance in 2001’s “Monster’s Ball.� (Last year, Berry was in the midst of a messy custody battle which played out in the tabloids.)

Without the help of a strong cast around her, the actress has had trouble attracting audiences. While the “X-Men� franchise and the ensemble film “New Year’s Eve� have performed well, last year she and Tom Hanks were unable to turn the pricey “Cloud Atlas� into a hit.

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