This is a sequel to the original “Now You See Me” released in June of 2013. I saw that film and here is a brief summary of the review I wrote at the time, with an entertainment rating of half a star:
“This is a story about four magicians, or is it five or six, who defy logic, the FBI and countless other obstacles to pull off what seems to be amazing illusions across continents, all the while bilking banks and millionaires out of money, or are they? The plot becomes so convoluted and twisted that it is difficult to follow just exactly what is going on, and when the inevitable twists came at the end I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.”
Why, you ask, would I bother with the sequel? Well, first check the list of films showing at our nearby theatres, not a whole lot to choose from (so what else is new)? I’m still waiting for the summer blockbuster treats. I see another Jason Bourne and what looks like an epic Tarzan movie on the horizon, and I’m not sure what else is coming. Secondly, somehow the original grossed ticket sales of over $350 million worldwide, so somebody liked it. Maybe some of you did. So, I thought I would take a chance.
Now You See Me 2
Entertainment Rating: ★
Rating: PG-13, scattered profanity
Possible Oscar Nominations: None
If you saw the original and liked it, you no doubt will like this one as well. Plenty of amazing illusions, trickery, and most importantly, a script that is almost impossible to make sense out of. There is lots of color and great music backing up the “Horsemen,” which is the name this crew of prestidigitators has given themselves. From New York to Macau to London they flee one step ahead of whoever is after them, leaving a trail of confusion and deception behind. One of their great accomplishments is somehow getting from one continent to another on private jets, when they don’t even have a set of clean underwear among them.
The cast is the same as the original, no surprise there. One note to Hollywood producers: must Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman appear in every other movie you crank out? Enough is enough.
A good deal of the story takes place in Macau. It’s almost a travelogue of sorts, very colorful with an almost frenetic lifestyle. I recall scenes from the movie Skyfall filmed there; in different times it would seem almost worth a trip, just to take in the color and majesty.
In any event, if you did not see the original, this sequel will have too many unanswered questions carried forward. So, if this appeals to you, I strongly recommend you rent the first one. After seeing it and knowing the sequel is a lot of the same old stuff, you most likely will stay home. Woody Harrelson, Jessie Eisenberg, and Mark Ruffalo aside, along with the aforementioned old guys, the cast isn’t enough to overcome a plot resembling a maze with virtually no way out.
