Now You See Me 2 picks up a year after the original, although the film seemed unclear on that citing the time difference as 18 months and another point 2 years. Just a small nitpick that I felt the need to address that would have seemed random had I waited to discuss it. Anyways, the Horseman are the protagonists this time around with a few minor shakeups in regards to the cast, Isla Fisher's Henley has been replaced with Lizzy Caplan's Lula, the stakes are higher, the tricks are grander, and the action's even bigger. So yes, Now You See Me 2 should be diagnosed with sequelitis as it aspires to be bigger and better than the first.
Like Now You See Me, this film hasn't been too well received by critics as both hold rotten critic tomato-meter scores on Rotten Tomatoes, but I enjoyed both regardless and still acknowledge their flaws which I will discuss in a moment. It's relatively rare that I find myself disagreeing with a majority of critics, although this year I feel they've been particularly harsh on quite a few blockbusters and I think this film found itself in the midst of that and it probably didn't help that critics weren't a fan of the execution of the magical Robin Hoods to begin with.
Critics are primarily poking holes in Now You See Me 2's reliance on a sense of disbelief to wow the audience with magic spectacle, and while that is indeed true, I think that's not too farfetched considering the film is about magic and Fast and Furious gets away with ridiculousness all the time.
Another weakness being pried at is the screenplay penned by Ed Solomon. The script doesn't really service all of the characters in regards to providing more character depth as some characters earn more focus that was certainly warranted while others remain supporting players and the writers had to factor in new additions to the story. The sequel also doesn't have as many twists and turns as the original, and unfortunately some were a tad predictable. I did enjoy the explanations behind the tricks like done in the predecessor and I was glad that element was carried over.
Jon Chu takes over the director's chair from Louis Leterrier and brings a flashier visual aesthetic and high energy action. The editing kept a quick pace and allowed for some clean quick cuts that showcased some swanky cinematography. I liked the visual effects work as it looked believable when used, although in some cases the magic tricks they were accompanied with seemed outright impractical. While unfeasible, the magic sequences were quite enjoyable with some nifty tricks ranging from bonkers to amazing.
The standout sequence in my mind, which wasn't a "trick" per say, but a practical sequence where the Horseman must exchange a card amongst the group. The scene delivered a nice balance of amazement, humor, and suspense. I must commend the action sequences that are vastly improved from the first with some claustrophobic fight choreography that was very cool and incorporated some nice feats by the various Horseman.
The talented cast from Now You See Me return, with a few exceptions, and I feel they elevated their performances for the most part. Mark Ruffalo's role is beefed up providing more for the actor to do as the Horseman's leader Dylan Rhodes and I felt he was the most relatable and sympathetic character this time around. Rhodes gets a cool action chase sequence in China and his character's backstory is more fleshed out with a meaty more well rounded role that allowed for some nice emotional beats. Ruffalo is a terrific actor and I think he was one of the standouts once again as the role cultivates nice ground for Ruffalo to showcase his talents.
Jesse Eisenberg gets an intriguing arc as J. Daniel Atlas focusing on the qualities of his character, stepping on the toes of others as his ego encourages him to strive towards Dylan's position as leader of the Horseman. I felt Eisenberg did a nice job bringing out the cocky nature of his character and straying away from the awkwardness he exhibited earlier this year in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.
Woody Harrelson plays two roles, and it was so awkward. Harrelson plays both twin hypnotists Merritt, returning Horseman, and Chase McKinney and I liked the comedic relief he brought with Merritt, but found his twin brother to be completely unnecessary and just plain weird.
Dave Franco is charming as Jack Wilder, but his character once again felt flat. Franco has nice moments, but never felt like a rounded character as opposed to the other Horseman.
Lizzy Caplan was a very welcome addition as Lula. I liked how her character acknowledged she was the only female in the group and her quirky, fun personality made for a nice shakeup among the group. Caplan exhibited great comedic timing and line delivery and I actually felt while watching that she would have been a great contender for a better female Ghostbusters cast (My issues with that will be reserved for my review of that next month).
Caplan and Franco exhibit some nice chemistry as a potential romantic pairing and the Horseman cohesively once again carried charisma that made the proceedings all the more enjoyable.
Daniel Radcliffe made for a delightful young methodical antagonist as Walter Mabry that just felt compulsory to explain the steps of his grand tricks completely foiling the illusion. Radcliffe isn't given significant depth like many of his fellow cast members but makes for an engaging presence onscreen.
Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman return and I actually liked their inclusion as the continuation of their respective character arcs injected some surprise into the proceedings. A few nice additions in the supporting department are Sanaa Lathan as the FBI's Deputy Director Natalie Austin and Jay Chou's Li.
One thing to keep in mind if you plan on seeing Now You See Me 2 I would highly recommend either watching or rewatching Now You See Me as the film begins expecting the audience has seen the first film. This wasn't an issue for me since I rewatched it last week for a Throwback Thursday Review.
In summation, Now You See Me 2 is without a doubt bigger than it's predecessor, and I personally feel that it was indeed better, but I can acknowledge the story flaws, lack of character depth, and over reliance on disbelief as weaknesses. However, the film's entertainment value is amplified thanks to Chu's extravagant aesthetic, cooler action sequences, and the talented cast making it a slightly more enjoyable experience in my mind.
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