Now You See Me 2 (2016)

Genre

Comedy | Crime | Thriller

Director

Jon M. Chu

Country

USA

Cast

Jesse Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo, Woody Harrelson, Dave Franco, Lizzy Caplan, Daniel Radcliffe, Morgan Freeman, Jay Chou, Sanaa Lathan, Michael Caine, Henry Lloyd-Hughes, Ben Lamb, David Warshofsky, Tsai Chin, Richard Laing

Storyline

One year after outwitting the FBI, The Four Horsemen resurface and  are forcibly recruited by a tech genius (Daniel Radcliffe) to pull off their most impossible heist yet.

Opinion

Since "Now You See Me" was very entertaining yet substanceless, I wasn't expecting anything different from this. And to be honest, that's all I wanted. Just to have a good time. Unfortunately Jon M. Chu wasn't able to give me that.

"Now You See Me 2" is pretty much like the previous film, but its complete lack of magic makes it dull, and awfully disappointing.

The plot feels forced and is quite predictable since the very beginning, and while the first film managed to be quite believable or at least to capture and trick the audience with its magic, this film is completely unbelievable. So unbelievable it's magical, but in a Harry Potter kind of way, and this is supposed to be an illusionism movie, not a fantasy.

But let's move onto the other flaws. In addition to dry and unnecessary dialogues, the film also feature new, terrible characters. The new Horseman, played by Lizzy Caplan, tries too hard to be liked, and adds even more silliness and slapstick to the film. The villain, played by Daniel Radcliffe because for some reason villains must have a British accent, is quite pathetic. And I'm still not getting the point of introducing Woody Harrelson's evil, identical twin brother.

The jokes fall flat most of the time, and even though they were okay, the magic tricks are completely ruined and thus made boring by the excessive use of special effects. And it's so obvious they are computer generated.

But at least the acting isn't that bad. Woody Harrelson and Morgan Freeman do a quite good job reprising their roles, and Daniel Radcliffe manages to give a decent performance which is a lot considering the shitty role he had to play. Worst of them all? Lizzy Caplan.

Now You See Me (2013)

Genre

Crime | Thriller

Director

Louis Leterrier

Country

USA

Cast

Jesse Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher, Dave Franco, Mélanie Laurent, Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, Michael Kelly, Common, José Garcia, Caitriona Balfe, Elias Koteas

Storyline

Four magicians are invited to attend a meeting in an apartment, A year later, they call themselves the Four Horsemen and the finale of their show in Las Vegas is to rob a bank. They actually rob a bank in Paris, and this "incident" is brought to the attention of the FBI who assign agent Dylan Rhodes (Mark Ruffalo) to investigate alongside with Interpol agent Alma Dray (Mélanie Laurent). However, this mystery proves difficult to solve, even with the insights of the professional illusion exposer, Thaddeus Bradley (Morgan Freeman). 

Opinion

Like a real magic show, Now You See Me is a deliciously well-played and entertaining film that does not have much substance.

The best thing about the film is undoubtedly the pacing and the thrills, but unfortunately there is not much more. The real trick is the plot: no need to say Abracadabra, it's already gone. Obviously the audience agrees to be fooled, but this plot is an insult, and includes a mirror that covers up a safe - predictable since the same trick has been shown earlier in the film - and a ridiculous chase by the FBI, whose agents seem like schoolboys struggling with the first day of training. 

The narration and the shots seem to be those of an action movie rather than a crime caper, and the atmosphere is that of a cat hunting a mouse, only you can't tell who's the cat and who's the mouse. 

Also the film tries to reflect on the wonder, the belief in magic and the willingness to be fooled, a little like "The Prestige" did - I humbly apologize to Nolan for the comparison -, but doesn't go beyond pure entertainment. 

All well acted, the characters completely lack development and are nothing more than caricatures - Jesse Eisenberg as the egocentric magician, Isla Fisher as his former assistant who has become a star, Woody Harrelson as the once-famous mentalist and Dave Franco as the petty criminal with some magic skills. The rest of the cast, Mark Ruffalo, Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, and Mélanie Laurent, surprisingly does a good job considering how poor their characters are.

But then again, it's really entertaining, and perfect to just chill. 

"The closer you think you are, the less you'll actually see."- Daniel Atlas