Entertainment

A LEGEND IN HIS MIND

WITH John Malkovich play ing a flamboyant mentalist who’s hypnotized himself into believing he’s not a has-been, what’s not to like about “The Great Buck Howard”?

Sean McGinly’s affectionate satire of the lower rungs of show business failed to meet off-the-charts expectations when it premiered at last year’s Sundance Film Festival. Taken on its own terms, though, the film is a small-scale charmer that provides a tailor-made role for Malkovich, who is always fun to watch.

Malkovich’s Buck Howard tells everyone he meets that he appeared 61 times on “The Tonight Show” with Johnny Carson. He doesn’t mention that Carson didn’t invite him back during his last 10 years and don’t even ask about Jay Leno.

Buck whom the credits identify as loosely inspired by the Amazing Kreskin, and who counts the Captain and Tenille among his contemporaries has a loyal but dwindling audience for his “corny but charming” routine in such entertainment hot spots as Bakersfield, Calif.

It’s here he takes on a new personal assistant named Troy (Colin Hanks), a law school dropout who delivers the often redundant and frequently sentimental voiceover narration.

Buck yearns to return to Las Vegas and “The Tonight Show.”

After a particularly humiliating brush with his Middle American fans (personified by Steve Zahn), our hero announces to Troy and his long-suffering manager (Ricky Jay) that he will recapture the nation’s attention with a new “effect” to be unveiled in Minneapolis.

Much to the surprise of Troy and especially the cynical New York publicist (a very funny Emily Blunt) hired for the event, the stunt is indeed spectacular and leads, in totally unexpected ways, to the invitations Buck so craves.

But this irrepressible and imperious ham so out of touch that he remarks “I don’t know this paper” when introduced to an Internet columnist may be his own worst enemy.

Tom Hanks, Colin’s real-life father, appears briefly but amusingly as Troy’s disapproving dad. Tom and the film’s other producers have recruited a motley crew of celebrities to mock themselves, including Jon and Martha Stewart, Tom Arnold, Conan O’Brien and Gary Coleman.

Not to mention a certain gay “Star Trek” star who may or may not have been romantically involved with Buck. (The latter tells interviewers he’s “never met the right girl.”)

“The Great Buck Howard” clearly knows the dregs of showbiz but loves its title character too much to go in for the kill. Which is perfectly all right with me.

lou.lumenick@nypost.com

THE GREAT BUCK HOWARD Malkovich magic. Running time: 90 minutes. Rated PG (mild suggestiveness). At the Village East, the Broadway and 62nd, the First and 62nd.