"Gobsmacked" by Costas Damianou and Simon Lovell
Suggested Retail USD$37.50
Available direct from World Magic Shop
In a Blink: 7 Out of 10

"Gobsmacked", an effect by Costas Damianou and Simon Lovell, is a neat bit of business that would probably be a hit in a book or on a disc, but as a standalone trick, it falls flat and, at the price, is too expensive for what you're getting here.

The effect is simple enough (and you can catch the demo video here). The performer shows a blue back deck of cards, which is placed face up on the table. The spectator cuts the deck into two piles and picks one. The spectator then deals cards from this pile face up on the table, stopping when they want. The cards are seen to be unique -- no duplicates here -- and when they turn over the card they stopped at, it's seen to be red-backed and has their name (or any message) written on it.

Let's hit the high-points first. The best thing "Gobsmacked" brings to the table is the appearance of fairness. The spectator cuts the deck. The spectator picks a pile. The spectator deals the cards. The spectator stops when he wants. Afterwards, nobody will remember you doing much of anything (which isn't far from the truth: a verbal force here, a bit of psychology there, and you're out of the picture). That makes "Gobsmacked" very neat. Also, "Gobsmacked" is extremely flexible, as the DVD shows. Those little personal messages can be used to celebrate birthdates, anniversaries, special events... well, simply, anything you want.

After that, things go downhill.

You see, to me, a standalone trick has to have something to justify both the status of being a loner out there and not part of the pack in a book or video and the cost. Usually, that means gimmicks of one kind or the other, but even new, stirking ideas can make the grade. In "Gobsmacked", you get neither one. There are no gimmicks (don't get me wrong; the "Gobsmacked" deck, which you'll construct from a regular deck and the supplied cards, is gaffed, but gimmicks aren't in play here) and the ideas are not new. Credits on "Gobsmacked" go to Wakeman and Regal and others, but the ideas go back further than that (Baker, Hugard, Hay, Tarbell surely, along with Vernon and Marlo I'd wager).

Now, none of that -- let me emphasize that through a bit of repetition and some punctuation: none of that! -- makes "Gobsmacked" a bad trick. It just doesn't justify the pricetag or the release as a standalone trick.

"Gobsmacked" is a neat idea, or rather a compilation of ideas, and it plays okay (though I'd be hard-pressed to say it plays better than other such things that are out there), and that's about all that can be said about it.

Is it worth the purchase? If you're really in love with the idea, then yes, it's worth it. If you're looking for some kind of new way of forcing a card, this ain't it. It's just not enough for most people to get excited about (unless you're Simon Lovell, who I'll bet kills with this; the skeleton of his routine is included on the disc).

All in all, "Gobsmacked" is neat, but not that neat.

"Gobsmacked" by Costas Damianou and Simon Lovell
In a Blink: 7 Out of 10

Practicality: 5
It's a full-deck arrangement, but not enough to call a "stack" by any stretch. A portion of the deck is left available for other stuff, but you'll have to be a bit choosy about what you do with it (certain cards are out of play, and using the full deck is all but a no-no). Reset is not that big of a deal, but will take some getting used to. All in all, this is fairly practical for the typical performer (if there is one). It's simple enough to learn, which is a plus, and gives it a slight edge over other such routines.

Workmanship: 10
The cards are on Bicycle stock. 'Nuff said there.

Documentation: 5
Oy. The documentation is next to impossible to read at times (hint: small, white font against bright orange background equals readability problems). The DVD does an adequate job of teaching the routine, though, so what your sore eyes miss they'll be able to catch on the video. The big problem is that, despite the touting of variations to the original routine, there really aren't. Different ideas, yes, but I wouldn't call them "variations".

Effect: 8
"Gobsmacked" plays really well, but little more so than other routines of this type. The cleanliness of things makes this a bit more effective, but not mind-numbingly so.

Presentation: 7
You're all but forced into a gambling presentation if you follow the instructions implicity, but none is given. Still, the routine is extremely flexible and ideas are easy to come by -- there are some nice thoughts on the disc. In appearance, everything is extremely fair and above board, and that gives this some much needed "oomph" and that's the strong point of "Gobsmacked".

Shane