The Horsemen return for another high-stakes illusion where old meets new in this fast-paced magic caper.
Every few years, the Four Horsemen show up, perform a show where they steal from the rich and give to the poor (modern-day Robin Hoods if you will), and disappear just as quickly as they came. It's been almost a decade since we have seen them, but once again Daniel Atlas (Jesse Eisenberg; A Real Pain), Merritt McKinney (Woody Harrelson; Natural Born Killers), Henley Reeves (Isla Fisher; Wedding Crashers), and Jack Wilder (Dave Franco; Neighbors) have emerged from the shadows to right the wrongs perpetrated by the wealthy. However, this time, there are some new players in the mix as Now You See Me, Now You Don't heads to theaters.
The Horsemen are back... except they aren't, really. Though their likenesses are being used, the tricks are really being executed by three young magicians named Charlie (Justice Smith; Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom), Bosco (Dominic Sessa; The Holdovers), and June (Ariana Greenblatt; Borderlands). They seem to be getting away with it until Atlas finds them and tells them they need to help him steal the most expensive diamond ever from the Vanderberg Family. After pulling off the heist, the other Horsemen show up, all carrying tarot cards and wondering what it all means. In a race against time, the old guard and the new generation of magicians must battle Veronika Vanderberg (Rosamund Pike; Gone Girl) for possession of the Heart Diamond.
The tricks, sleight of hand, and "misdirection" are all part of what makes the Now You See Me franchise so great. The intricate way the heists are planned and pulled off seems effortless, but there are obviously hours upon hours of behind-the-scenes work that go into making these tricks perfect. Director Ruben Fleischer (Venom) is no stranger to utilizing CGI and visual effects in many of his previous films, and he brings that experience to the third installment. His use of quick cuts keeps the pace moving through the almost two-hour film.
The cast, of course, is part of the appeal and one of the elements that made the first film work so well. These actors have easy chemistry within the group, which lends credence to the idea that they are truly a team. Smith, Sessa, and Greenblatt also seem to have similar chemistry, and the combination of the old group with the new blends seamlessly together like flour, eggs, and sugar in a cookie recipe. Pike is perfectly cast as the villain since she has an edge that commands attention. Adding to these performers is the return of Morgan Freeman (The Shawshank Redemption), reprising his role as Thaddeus Bradley from the first two films.
As with the first two movies, the tricks are masterfully performed, and the film is fast-paced to help maintain the illusion and the element of surprise. The magic set pieces are as complex as before, ensuring fans won't be disappointed.
What was disappointing, however, was that most of the story could be predicted within the first 30 minutes, leaving little surprise by the end. Still, the movie remains fun overall and aligns with the franchise's entertaining, lighthearted tone.
For some fun, enjoyable entertainment, the Now You See Me franchise has delivered in the past, and this third installment is right in line with that overall sentiment.
Grade: B-
