Hey Wyatt,
I'm a huge skeptic myself, so I know where you're coming from. I was a bit shocked by the reviews too, I hoped for positivity, but people really seem to be enjoying it!
Fontaine actually isn't a sandwich trick - it has some similarities, and is definitely meant be adapted to any routine, the sandwich variety being one of them
To sum it up, fontaine is a move. It's one move that allows you to make a card visually turn face up, face down, change and disappear between two other cards. There are 3 main effects taught, but ultimately the goal is for you to incorporate it into your own magic. It's extremely fun to practice, but it's even more fun coming up with something completely new with it
Here's a rundown of what's inside:
'The Fontaine Effect' - a card is selected and lost in the pack. Two red jacks are shown with a joker (the 'wildcard') between them. The joker inbetween the jacks are spread out into biddle grip - the card instantly jumps facedown with a wave of your hand, and then jumps back faceup with another shake. The cards are shown on both sides, and the joker disappears completely. Both jacks are shown both front and back, and with another shake of the hand, a facedown card appears between them. When this card is turned over, it's revealed not to be the joker, but in fact the selected card chosen from the start.
'The Grasshopper Fontaine' - two Jacks are placed face up on top of the deck. A card is chosen from the center, and lost in the pack. The jacks are one by one shown on both sides, and are turned facedown onto the deck. A snap of the fingers, and the selected card jumps inbetween the jacks. With the jacks surrounding the selected card, they are spread out in biddle grip, and the arms are crossed. With a wave of the hand, the selected card disappears from the jacks and pops out from the center of the deck (jumping back to where it started).
'why-MAX' - this is more of a bonus effect, in which a card is placed in between two jacks, all three cards are turned face down, and with a wave, the selected card visually vanishes. The cards are immediately turned face up to show only two jacks, but with another wave of the hand, the card pops back into existence, between the two jacks.
Among these three routines, I also teach a few bonus applications, and encourage you to take bits and pieces from each routine and make it your own. There's lots to be uncovered with the sleight, and it's definitely not a closed book. Everyone can interpret it differently, and the hope is that even if you don't perform any of these tricks, you will find a use for it in your own effects
With all that said, I appreciate your interest, and possible consideration in buying it. I encourage you to check it out, I genuinely think you'll enjoy it. Even if you're not into sandwich tricks, you may find a use for it somewhere else.
In regards to the Jesus Christ reference - I won't be dying for anyone's sins any time soon. But I do enjoy fish.
~Zach