The Amazing Maleeni is a fun episode. It's nice, light-hearted fun. The effect of the head turning around is cheesy, but it's television. They don't have a big budget. That being said, the make-up of the severed head is very realistic. So, they cancel each other out. I like how in this episode, Scully calls Mulder a "skeptic". Also in this episode, we see the second ever flaming hand. The first being in "Fire" from season one. It's interesting that Mulder purposely knocks Alvarez's pool ball when leaving, throwing his FBI-weight around. Scully is very impressive with her hand-turning trick. Was that real or trick photography? Finally, Ricky Jay and Johnathan Levit are not only good magicians, they are good actors. It gave a high degree of authenticity having real magicians perform those parts instead of just normal actors. The Amazing Maleeni isn't an "amazing" episode in any sense of the word, but it's a solid episode with enough misdirection and sleight-of-hand to keep you entertained and guessing.
6 Reviews
"Abracadabra, Man!"
classicsoncall5 August 2017
Warning: Spoilers
For once, an X-Files story has nothing at all to do with the mythology arc OR a 'monster of the week'. This one relies on magic, and it's a pretty effective story that keeps you guessing about what's going on. The bank branch referred to in the episode is the Cradock Marine Bank where Herman Pinchbeck (Ricky Jay) works as a loan officer, and if I'm not mistaken, it was a Cradock Marine Bank where that time loop story took place in 'Monday' from Season Six.
I have to admit, I didn't consider an alliance between Herman Pinchbeck and Billy LaBonge (Jonathan Levit) until the moment it was revealed. That was pretty slick, along with the way they put one over on gangster Cissy Alvarez (Robert LaSardo). The whole misdirection thing was utilized pretty well for this story, because it had you coming and going at the same time for the most part. That the episode used two real life magicians, Ricky Jay and Jonathan Levit, only added to the credibility of the sleight of hand tricks. Mulder came off pretty good too, judging by his hand jive.
All in all, this was a fun and entertaining episode, and I always get a kick out of those cultural references the writers make when they refer to some TV show or movie of the past. This time it was Scully referring to Mulder's idiosyncratic use of the English language when she said - "Why are you talking like Tony Randall?"
I have to admit, I didn't consider an alliance between Herman Pinchbeck and Billy LaBonge (Jonathan Levit) until the moment it was revealed. That was pretty slick, along with the way they put one over on gangster Cissy Alvarez (Robert LaSardo). The whole misdirection thing was utilized pretty well for this story, because it had you coming and going at the same time for the most part. That the episode used two real life magicians, Ricky Jay and Jonathan Levit, only added to the credibility of the sleight of hand tricks. Mulder came off pretty good too, judging by his hand jive.
All in all, this was a fun and entertaining episode, and I always get a kick out of those cultural references the writers make when they refer to some TV show or movie of the past. This time it was Scully referring to Mulder's idiosyncratic use of the English language when she said - "Why are you talking like Tony Randall?"
Head-Spinning Magic!
andyetris24 October 2006
When a sideshow magician's head does a 360o turn - it falls off! Scully suspects someone else is the hack - Mulder makes his high card disappear! Misdirection and sleight-of-hand are keys to this million-dollar magical mystery of robbery and revenge!
This is a well-done comic episode with a clever plot that keeps the twists coming - the ones we expect, and the ones we don't! The acting is perfect and the ending is too - almost. My only complaints are that too many of the 'magic tricks' are crude cinematographic editing, and the ending should really have been revealed in action, rather than explained.
This is a well-done comic episode with a clever plot that keeps the twists coming - the ones we expect, and the ones we don't! The acting is perfect and the ending is too - almost. My only complaints are that too many of the 'magic tricks' are crude cinematographic editing, and the ending should really have been revealed in action, rather than explained.
Abra Cadabra
Sanpaco1319 July 2007
This is a great episode if only because it is about magic. It starts out wonderfully with the Amazing Maleeni's head falling off and then some great camera work with Mulder holding up the picture of the pier and then pulling it away to show a camera shot of the same scene live. I always have liked the shows or movies that lay out some elaborate scheme but don't reveal it to you until the end of the show. You have to watch and try to fit the clues together otherwise you have no idea what is going on which also isn't necessarily bad because that just keeps you wondering and watching until the end. I liked that in the end of this episode there are extra twists even after the trick is explained and that Mulder was able to outsmart the magicians. Always one step ahead. I love watching this episode every time and I give it a 10/10
Movie reference - Seinfeld
daciang3 October 2008
Warning: Spoilers
Maybe it should be noted that this episode gives a nod to an episode of Seinfeld, in which George Costanza pretends to be disabled and when his boss finds out he says "We built you a ramp!".
This is exactly what the bank manager says to Meleeni after Mulder exposes his fake disability and impersonation of his twin brother. I think it's plausible it was intentional, this episode has a humorous tone.
(I know comments have to be at least 10 lines long, but this is just a suggestion for a trivia section for this episode. I also see comments with less than 10 lines of text. What gives?)
This is exactly what the bank manager says to Meleeni after Mulder exposes his fake disability and impersonation of his twin brother. I think it's plausible it was intentional, this episode has a humorous tone.
(I know comments have to be at least 10 lines long, but this is just a suggestion for a trivia section for this episode. I also see comments with less than 10 lines of text. What gives?)
A real change up, solid episode.
Sleepin_Dragon21 September 2022
The Great Maleeni performs in front of a small group, one heckler provokes him into performing an extra act of magic, soon after he's found dead, the heckler is top of Mulder's list of suspects.
I quite enjoyed it, there is no denying that there is a degree of originality here, it stands out as quite a unique episode. It's a crime caper, with a magical twist, and a few elements added in to transform a straight up crime into an X File.
After some creepy and darker storylines, this came as a welcome change up, if I'm honest is say there's nothing here to make this one stand out greatly, and I find it hard to see this one featuring in anyone's top ten list, but it's definitely enjoyable for its sheer originality.
My favourite scene had the be the comical moment at the end, where Scully performs a trick of her own. Some of the special effects look a little dated by today's standards, but they're still effective.
Ricky Jay and Jonathan Levit were both excelled here as the central characters, I wasn't surprised to read that both were magicians in the real world.
Enjoyable, 7/10.
I quite enjoyed it, there is no denying that there is a degree of originality here, it stands out as quite a unique episode. It's a crime caper, with a magical twist, and a few elements added in to transform a straight up crime into an X File.
After some creepy and darker storylines, this came as a welcome change up, if I'm honest is say there's nothing here to make this one stand out greatly, and I find it hard to see this one featuring in anyone's top ten list, but it's definitely enjoyable for its sheer originality.
My favourite scene had the be the comical moment at the end, where Scully performs a trick of her own. Some of the special effects look a little dated by today's standards, but they're still effective.
Ricky Jay and Jonathan Levit were both excelled here as the central characters, I wasn't surprised to read that both were magicians in the real world.
Enjoyable, 7/10.
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