NOW YOU SEE ME 2
Going into any film requires a certain level of suspending disbelief- rarely more so than with a film about the showmanship of professional magicians. By very definition these types of performers create illusions, therefore abandoning logic is a prerequisite for enjoying the inconceivable spectacle taking place before your eyes. Though NOW YOU SEE ME 2 demands an almost- impossible disregard of logic, it also succeeds in kicking off another summer of popcorn flicks for those who just want to have a fun time at the movies.
As a direct follow up to the original NOW YOU SEE ME, the sequel finds the main cast (The Four Horsemen) as they await further instruction from their mysterious benefactors "The Eye", a legendary and anonymous group who clandestinely moderate the world of professional magicians (and apparently evildoers) of the world. While the first film shows The Four Horsemen fully in on the orchestrated vigilante justice, this second rendition reveals the team to be bored while in hiding and falling apart as they begin to question one another as well as the powers that be. When one of their infamous surprise sabatoge shows at a product launch (reminiscent of Steve Jobs' legendary Apple launch events) goes terribly awry, The Four Horsemen are forced to abandon their latest endeavor and are thrown into the middle of a wild goose chase in Macau, the "Las Vegas of China." From here, the group is forced to question their loyalty in order to save their own lives.
To say the story is complex is laughable. There are so many twists and turns, even the most savvy film savant would have a tough time keeping up. However, director Jon M. Chu does a valiant job keeping the film planted firmly on the rails. While following the plot may require some mental gymnastics, the fun of the film keeps it from feeling too bogged down. This is, after all, a summer popcorn flick, but one for a thinking audience for sure. The tricks and illusions are as tantalizing as the captivating characters, with one particular "card play" scene that nearly had me applauding at its nail-biting conclusion.
Returning for the sequel, Jesse Eisenberg, Dave Franco, Mark Ruffalo, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, and Woody Harrelson (doing double duty here in his original role plus that of his character's over-the-top twin brother) delight as they reprise super amusing roles that feature their characters' distinct talents. It is truly a pleasure to watch such skilled actors tackle somewhat frivolous subject matter with the same aplomb they would as with more Oscar-worthy fare, and I don't even dare to say that the film would fall completely flat without their tremendous command of the screen. The bonus is that they really appear to be having a blast with their roles, and director Chu perfectly harnesses each of the actors' expert timing and wit. As the only newcomers, token girl Lizzy Caplan along with lunatic Daniel Radcliffe keep up well enough with the originals, though admittedly I could have done with a bit less of Caplan's character's "I'm so sassy and different" schtick. I am a huge fan of Caplan's work and realize that this rests on the writers. It was an overall fun character, but perhaps a bit too plucky for my taste. While Radcliffe chimed in with just the right amount of crazy, his character (and motivation) seemed just a tad off kilter as well and definitely had me scratching my head at the end.
My favorite part of the film, of course, are the illusions themselves. When the characters actually performed their tricks, I was completely captivated. I was also tickled to see more of Harrelson's Merritt McKinney show off his hypnotic powers, a talent I felt was somewhat wasted in the first film. Though there are a few sequences that feel as if there is no way they could be accomplished without the digital kind of movie magic, this minor annoyance was only a slight misstep in the overall excitement of the onscreen stunts.
All that said, NOW YOU SEE ME 2 is an incredibly fun, mind twisting- albeit slightly confusing- ride that will have you happily munching your popcorn in the theater this summer.
Thanks for reading!
Rebecca Elliott
Aka Annette Kellerman
