- Actors: Morgan Freeman, Jesse Eisenberg, Daniel Radcliffe, Woody Harrelson, Mark Ruffalo
- Director: Jon M. Chu
- Format: NTSC, Widescreen
- Language: English
- Region: Region A/1
- Number of discs: 2
- Rated: PG-13
- Studio: Lionsgate
- Release Date: September 6, 2016
- Run Time: 94 minutes
The basic
premise for the Now You See Me franchise
resembled Oceans 11 with magic rather
than grifters, filling the film with an impressive cast of actors to distract
from the gaps in logic. Although there were moments of real illusions and magic
tricks, eventually the first film slipped into CGI nonsense rather than
providing a realistic explanation for the events. It should come as no surprise
that a plot giving the writers a computer generated ‘deus ex machina’ for every
impossible situation would turn into a series of films, and if Now You See Me 2 is any indicator, the
third film should be off-the-charts absurd.
After a year in
hiding following the events of the first film, the Four Horseman return to the
spotlight again in order to take down a privacy-violating tech company.
Actually, three of them are back, with Isla Fisher replaced by Lizzy Caplan due
to an untimely pregnancy for the actress. Caplan plays a macabre magician named
Lula, whose specialty is the kind of illusions you might see Criss Angel
perform. Everything else is basically the same as it was last film. Atlas
(Jesse Eisenberg) still arrogantly wants to be the one in charge, while FBI
agent Dylan Rhodes (Mark Ruffalo) is still the group’s covert leader. McKinney (Woody
Harrelson) has taught Wilder (Dave Franco) his hypnotism tricks in the free
time faking his own death, but hasn’t learned anything new himself. When the
secret of Wilder’s death and the double-agent status of Rhodes
are revealed during their latest appearance, the Horsemen realize that they are
the ones who have been tricked.
The show ends in
chaos and with the Four Horsemen vanishing while Rhodes
is pursued by the authorities. The magicians are inexplicably sent across the
globe to China,
blackmailed by a tech prodigy named Walter Mabry (Daniel Radcliffe) to steal
something for him. Meanwhile Rhodes is forced
to team up with Thaddeus Bradley (Morgan Freeman), who was put in prison by the
group at the end of the first film. Their other victim from the original,
Arthur Tressler (Michael Caine), also inevitably shows up in the narrative
looking for revenge.
The first film
may have had a few unrealistic moments amidst the use of real illusions and
magic tricks, but the sequel spends most of its time on unrealistic and
illogical spectacle. Some of the tricks are given brief explanations, but they
make far less sense once you stop to think about it. When performing on the
street, their sudden disappearance is explained by holes cut into the wall of
buildings. Where did the holes come from? How did they put them there without
people noticing, or were there always obvious holes in the side of buildings?
Other times we are given quick explanations, told that strobe lights make
raindrops appear to change directions. How is that possible? These are all
questions you are not supposed to ask, because the movie attempts to move at a
pace quick enough to distract you from logic. Now You See Me 2 is entertaining
in a mindlessly diverting way, so long as you can dismiss any inclinations
towards thinking about what you have watched.
There is already
a plan for Now You See Me 3, which I
fully expect to be as unrealistic as all of the latest Fast and Furious sequels, and with an exponentially growing cast
list (Fisher is said to return in the next film). The Blu-ray release for this
first sequel includes a DVD and Digital HD copy of the movie, along with a few
exclusive extras. Only on the Blu-ray are two featurettes which cover the
ensemble cast and the tricks of making magic exciting on film. Also included in
the special features are an additional featurette and a commentary track with
director Jon M. Chu.
Entertainment Value:
8/10
Quality of
Filmmaking: 6.5/10
Historical
Significance: 6.5/10
Special Features: 6/10
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