If anything makes a ton of money, a sequel inevitably follows. After raking in the dough in 2013, the Now You See Me crew return for more magical hijinks. Think a magician’s version of Ocean’s 11 and you’d be on the mark.
Watching a group of people pull a heist is always fun, which Now You See Me 2 has in abundance. Full of the fast pace expected from such a movie, it should ensure viewers are bedazzled by this cinematic sleight of hand.
The Four Horsemen magic group, including Dylan (Mark Ruffalo) and Merritt (Woody Harrelson) are on the hunt for new adventures. This they find when blackmailed into carrying out another heist by tech wizard Walter (Daniel Radcliffe). Determined to gain the upper hand, the industrious foursome use their tricky guiles to grapple out of their latest dilemma.
Now You See Me 2 is a cinematic confection not lingering much in the memory. It’s diverting while watching, but as soon as you walk out the door only a modicum of its story remains. The reason is mainly due to the threat levels our heroes face. Never for a moment do you think The Four Horsemen are in any danger as you know they’ll eventually win.
Reaching the end game is delicious enough but not as satisfying as it should be. The cast give fine performances although most are simply playing to their already-established screen personas.
What Now You See Me 2 has going for it is its sense of scale. Events move briskly around the globe, magnifying the scope that everyone faces. Locations such as China and London look suitably imposing with the action sequences handled with skill. Jon M. Chu directs with a degree of enthusiasm although the flair needed to make the story sparkle is missing. Watching the magic tricks is always a treat though, with the ‘how did they do that?’ question going into overdrive.
Now You See Me 2 is largely forgettable fluff even if it’s a perfect movie for a rainy afternoon. It doesn’t tax the brain-cells too much with the creaky plot feeling as familiar as a ‘rabbit out of the hat’ and equally as engaging.
Reviewed by Patrick Moore
Twitter: @PatrickMoore14
Rating out of 10: 6
