Now You See Me 2 review: The Horsemen return, but does the magic from the 2013 surprise hit?
Now You See Me 2 review
Now You See Me 2 is the unfortunately titled (how about Now You Don’t?) follow-up to 2013’s surprise hit. At a time when big budget superhero films and animated kids movies still dominate, it was nice to see a heist film that employed magic and good humour to get audiences excited. The ensemble cast also helped, and most of them have returned for this satisfactory sequel.
Set a year after the original, J. Daniel Atlas (Jesse Eisenberg) and the other Horsemen Merritt (Woody Harrelson) and Jack (Dave Franco), are living in hiding awaiting instructions from their leader Dylan (Mark Ruffalo) who is still working undercover in the FBI although suspicion does surround him. After instructions from magical overlords The Eye have a new assignment for the team, Lula (Lizzy Caplan) is brought in to replace departed Henley (Isla Fischer doesn’t return), and the gang head off to New York. Little do they know their latest mission has been hijacked by Walter Mabry (Daniel Radcliffe), an entrepreneur who has faked his death and wants revenge on his ex-partener. With Jack’s death revealed to the world as a fake, and Dylan proved to be on the side of the criminals, The Horsemen must work undetected to clear their names and get their lives back.
Now You See Me 2 review
Now You See Me 2 is a perfect sequel in that it pretty much keeps to the beats of the original. It takes what works and knows its audience will be expecting more of the same. It also tries to give some depth to characters, despite the fact it’s the inventive heists most people will have flocked to see. J and Dylan are caught in a power struggle of sorts, as J believes he should be the leader of The Horsemen. Jack struggles with having to still pretend to be dead, while Merritt contends with his past as he encounters his hypnotist expert brother Chase, also played by Harrelson. These moments are appreciated as the film makes progress outside of the plot.
The performances that bring these characters alive also jump over the majority of coincidences and plot holes that one would expect. The chemistry is exceptionally good, whether it be conflict or friendship, and newcomer Caplan steals most of her scenes as an eager to impress and expertly enthusiastic fan and wannabe Horseman. Ruffalo, Franco, and Eisenberg are very solid, while Harrelson has extra fun by playing two roles. His role as Chase is very cartoonish and silly, but it was supposed to be that way, pairing nicely with the fake extra white teeth and nonsense tan. Most impressive is Radcliffe who makes a surprisingly great and threatening villain. He’s goofy but crazed, perfectly encapsulating the part of a spoiled brat with too much power and few morals.
Now You See Me 2 review
The heists themselves are very well captured, with a card spinning set-piece a particular highlight, but they also disappoint at the same time. There ‘magic’ rarely seems real when the film goes big, making reveals less impressive. There’s far too much CG and trickery to be truly impressed, and had the film gone with tricks that could actually be pulled off, then the viewers would be even more impressed by the twists. As an enjoyable character ensemble it has plenty of giggles, surprises, and genuine intrigue to make it entertaining. Maybe not David Copperfield or Derren Brown levels, but certainly a Paul Daniels on a good day.
Now You See Me 2 review by Luke Ryan Baldock, July 2016.
Now You See Me 2 is released on 4th July.
