Now You See Me: Now You Don’t review – A disposable but fitfully fun reunion

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A star rating of 3 out of 5.

The third movie in this action-comedy series mixes familiar characters with three new, younger magicians. It’s a fast-paced and easily forgettable film, but still manages to be enjoyable, acting as both a reunion for fans and a way to refresh the franchise for a new audience.

Director Ruben Fleischer, known for films like Venom and Uncharted, has taken over this project. He’s aiming for the usual elements of a complex heist movie – clever twists, exciting action sequences, a few famous faces, and glamorous international locations. However, with so many actors and a somewhat uneven script, it’s difficult to become truly invested in how the story unfolds.

The film starts with layers of trickery, hinting at the return of the Four Horsemen – a famous group of illusionists. This team includes the confident leader J Dallas Atlas (Jesse Eisenberg), the hypnotist Merritt (Woody Harrelson), the escape artist Henley (Isla Fisher), and the card expert Jack (Dave Franco), who haven’t worked together in nearly a decade.

The story then quickly shifts to a new group of young magicians: Bosco Leroy (Dominic Sessa), June (Ariana Greenblatt), and Charlie (Justice Smith). Atlas discovers their secret headquarters, intending to scold them for copying his team, but instead decides to recruit them. He gives them a mission – if they accept – to assist in a diamond heist and dismantle a criminal organization led by Veronika Vanderberg (Rosamund Pike), a ruthless woman who enables even the most terrible people.

The movie starts with a very enthusiastic introduction of the Horsemen’s return – perhaps a bit over the top, even for a legendary performer like Elvis. Although it’s difficult to get excited about their comeback after the disappointing sequel in 2016, a clever trick early on does breathe some life back into the series. At its heart, the film still offers the simple enjoyment of watching likable tricksters outsmart everyone and take from the wealthy.

The story’s charm is weakened by too much explaining, and the script often points out its own cleverness instead of letting the audience discover it. Presenting the need for escapism as something the show needs to justify is a gamble, especially when it should be focusing on being lighthearted and playfully deceptive.

The actors work hard to make the most of a script that relies heavily on familiar character types, likely to keep an already complicated story from becoming even more confusing. Eisenberg is charmingly talkative, and Harrelson delivers some memorable, understated lines – like his deadpan quip, ‘This liver’s not going to destroy itself,’ as he accepts a drink. Rosamund Pike clearly enjoys playing the villainous Veronika, bringing a playful, over-the-top performance to a character who isn’t developed very deeply.

It’s great to have Fisher back in the series, though they don’t have much to do this time around. The new characters show promise – Greenblatt particularly shines in a close-quarters fight – but cameos from familiar faces overshadow them, leaving little opportunity to make an impact. They risk being quickly forgotten when they aren’t on screen. The film also doesn’t spend much time developing the relationships between returning characters, simply acknowledging their complicated past without exploring it.

What really grabbed me were the amazing set pieces! The action scenes, especially the one at the diamond exhibit and inside the house of illusions, were so fast-paced, clever, and creative. Though, I did get a vibe that someone—maybe Christopher Nolan—might want his spinning hallway back! It was a clear nod, and honestly, a fun one.

Even for a series known for being over-the-top, the story connecting everything feels surprisingly weak. Some plot twists don’t matter much, and the writing often feels like it’s trying too hard to be clever or original, without succeeding. By the end, when the big reveal echoes the first movie, you’re hoping the filmmakers can come up with something truly new for the planned sequel.

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2025-11-11 21:10