Sequel lacks magic touch
Pitched as Ocean’s Eleven with magicians, 2013’s Now You See Me may have pulled a rabbit out of the hat at the worldwide box office, but failed to deliver on its intriguing premise.
Back to try and deliver more fireworks are original Horsemen Daniel ( Jesse Eisenberg), Dylan (Mark Ruffalo) Merritt (Woody Harrelson) and Jack (Dave Franco) and new illusionist addition Lula (Lizzy Caplan).
The gang are forced into pulling off a daring heist for tech genius Walter Mabry (Daniel Radcliffe) and face a bitter fight across three continents to clear their names and win their freedom.
First film director Louis Leterrier pulls a disappearing act and is replaced by the man behind two Step Up movies and little-loved blockbuster sequel G.I. Joe: Retaliation, Jon M. Chu.
One of the original’s trio of writers, Ed Solomon, is back on board to co-pen the story with Peter Chiarelli, whose only previous scripting experience came on forgettable 2009 rom-com The Proposal.
The pair deserve credit for creating a tale that’s much easier to follow than that found in the incredibly convoluted first flick – but it’s still packed with nonsensical, ‘OK, how did that happen?’ moments.
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.