Movie Review: Now You See Me – Now You Don’t
One-liner: A slick, fun and entertaining return to the franchise’s world of magic, heists and thrills, elevated by a charming ensemble.
Now You See Me: Now You Don’t is the long-awaited sequel to an entertaining, fun, and exciting heist thriller series. Arriving almost ten years after the second installation, Now You See Me 2, it’s curious that something hadn’t landed sooner based on the relative success and enjoyability of its predecessors – much like the enduring appeal of its lead actors.
This film series has always been something of an underdog – noted for its quality and distinctive edge, yet not quite as celebrated as one would expect given its Ocean’s Eleven-style team dynamics and flashy execution. The series focuses on a group of magicians known as the Four Horsemen, who lead daring heists that typically target unscrupulous businesses and people. In the case of Now You See Me: Now You Don’t, the focus is on a wealthy merchant, a diamond mogul, and a prized gem, as the group attempts to restore justice.
While the first two films focused squarely on the original Four Horsemen and their exploits as a modern Robin Hood and band of merry men (and women), this entry starts with a next-generation team of magicians. They attempt to tap into the Horsemen’s legacy with a staged event designed to add sizzle and continue the group’s good works. When one of the original Horsemen discovers these newcomers, they are roped into a new escapade. This reunion paves the way for a glorious series of deceptions, illusions, and mentalism designed to undo the Vandenberg empire – spanning fancy events, high-end photo shoots and grand prix showcases.
This globe-trotting adventure finds the band of magicians on the run from authorities, trying to stay a step ahead of Veronika Vandenberg on their special mission. Directed by Ruben Fleischer, the franchise continues with its recognizable sleek visuals, amusing repartee and daring gamesmanship. It deals with the old art of magic, secretive spaces, and grand cons centered on a precious artifact, making it difficult not to draw correlations with films like National Treasure.
Want to see half a billion dollars disappear?”
The high adventure is compelled by the charm of its cast, their offbeat sense of humour, and slick visuals. The bounds of real illusionist work are stretched with the help of visual effects, making everything larger than life. It’s an attempt to keep things grounded, even though each new operation and deception seems to escalate. Having such a broad team keeps the energy high as we flit between them, and their character dynamics drive things forward much like Ocean’s Eleven.
While it offers more of the same with a few fresh faces, this is a welcome return for a fun, entertaining and high-spirited jaunt. With a stellar ensemble including Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher and Dave Franco, plus a little help from the likes of Morgan Freeman, the charm and patter are at the core of this journey. The next-generation stars: Dominic Sessa, Ariana Greenblatt and Justice Smith. While not exactly scene-stealers, they add a great deal of charm and clout to the already solid cast.
The secret weapon for Now You See Me: Now You Don’t is Rosamund Pike, who continues to demonstrate why she is one of the best, taking on a role that may have been written with Charlize Theron in mind. Taking on yet another villainous role as Veronika Vandenberg, she reminds us of her versatility. While one of her first big roles was as a Bond girl in Die Another Day, Pike has continued to prove just how brilliant she is over the last 20 years, and this sequel is no different.
Sporting one of the most famous examples of a South African accent, she masters it to the point of turning it into a distinct feature, drawing South Africa’s long history with diamonds into the picture. Ultimately, the franchise is about the experience you get from an illusionist: summoning wonder, entertainment and a sense of magic. This encapsulates the movie-going experience, almost acting as a lightweight version of Inception by mirroring the way filmmaking is, in itself, the art of illusion.
Bolstered by high-end production values – partly attributed to the visual effects – this flashy popcorn blockbuster works hard to entertain and has a very clear vision of its objectives. The soundtrack at times mimics James Bond for action and intrigue, escalating the overall appeal and elegant nature of the visuals.
While this is more an exercise of style over substance, the charm of the cast and the noble aspirations of their mission make you root for them. As they try to escape one situation after the next, the film keeps you guessing as to who really holds the cards. Now You See Me: Now You Don’t is a film that does the franchise justice and keeps the door open for future installments.
The bottom line: Slick
