Today’s quick review: Now You See Me. When the Four Horsemen (Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher, and Dave Franco), a quartet of talented magicians, steal millions of dollars live on a Las Vegas stage, FBI agent Dylan Rhodes (Mark Ruffalo) and Interpol agent Alma Dray (Melanie Laurent) are assigned to the case. The reluctant partners must figure out what else the Horsemen have up their sleeves before the thieves pull one last vanishing act.
Now You See Me is a heist film with an inventive premise and a great cast. With unknown goals and a bottomless bag of tricks, the Four Horsemen pull off a series of seemingly impossible robberies. The only leads are Thaddeus Bradley (Morgan Freeman), a professional debunker who stands to make millions from an expose on the Horsemen, Arthur Tressler (Michael Caine), the group’s confident backer, and rumors of an ancient order of magicians know as the Eye.
Now You See Me adds spectacle and mystery to the heist genre by mixing in stage magic. The Horsemen accomplish their remarkable thefts through deception and misdirection, using particularly elaborate forms of magicians’ tricks to stay ahead of the law. As their plan advances, it becomes clear that their crimes are not isolated, but part of an even larger trick that Dylan and Alma must figure out before it is completed.
One of the Now You See Me’s big draws is its cast. Familiar faces include Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Mark Ruffalo, Morgan Freeman, and Michael Caine. While none of the characters are particularly deep, each one has talents and personality quirks that play well off the others. The Four Horsemen have a healthy banter that gives the movie a touch of comedy, and Mark Ruffalo and Melanie Laurent have an understated chemistry that works well.
Now You See Me has a few misses to go along with its hits. The plot has a good twist but otherwise weak payoff that does not quite live up to the movie’s hype. The plot logic also breaks down in a few places where the plan escalates from flashy but sensible to needlessly elaborate. The magic is generally plausible, but limited explanations and a couple of indulgences keep it from being perfectly accessible to the audience.
The cast is likewise mismanaged in minor ways. The Horsemen are kept offscreen for large portions of the movie so their activities can remain secret, but their character development is cut short as a result. The slack is picked up by Mark Ruffalo, but his character never really gets the chance to drive the plot, only fill time until the Horsemen resurface. Meanwhile, Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine, both incredible actors, are relegated to minor roles.
Watch Now You See Me when you are in the mood for a light, well-executed, and unusual take on the heist genre. Several minor flaws keep it from living up to its full potential, but its tricks, mystery, and cast are all enjoyable. For stage magic with a darker tone and a more elaborate plot, check out The Prestige instead.
7.3 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 for a good cast and interesting heists with a few issues keeping it from greatness.