Sequel lacks magic touch

An opening Morgan Freeman (Thaddeus) voiceover takes us through a brief recap of previous happenings, which is useful for newbies, but typical of a story cursed with too much chat and not enough magic.

Sticking a little too closely to the Ocean’s franchise template for its own good, the ‘good guys forced into a danger-filled job by a revenge-seeking villain’ plot smacks of Clooney, Pitt and Co’s second adventure.

Thankfully, the job the Horseman are cajoled into plays out as a fun heist involving body searches, sleight-of-hand and metal detectors.

Chu also builds on the original’s eye-catching visuals and tantalising tricks with capers crammed with quick costume changes, cool card flips and more hypnotism than you’ll find in your average Paul McKenna stage show.

The likeable cast combine well and Caplan – replacing Isla Fisher, who is explained away in a couple of sentences – adds snark and brashness in a role reminiscent of her Mean Girls breakthrough.

Ex-Harry Potter Radcliffe has fun with his switch to the dark side of the magical divide, there are a few surprise cameos and only a subdued Eisenberg and annoying Harrelson doppelgänger disappoint.

The rainy Londonset, rug-pulling climax entertains, but could’ve done without the Agatha Christie-like full explanation rundown.

And I’m not quite sure Chu, Solomon and Chiarelli will have enough up their sleeves to effectively follow through on their final trick; a set-up for the already green-lit Now You See Me 3.