Insaisissables 2

I must admit that I never heard of Now You See Me, and Now You See Me 2 until last week, May 2022. I bought the DVD of the first movie and loved it. Everyone in it was SO entertaining! So, I bought the sequel which arrived today.

While it has almost the same cast, Isla Fisher Is missing. Her vivacious personality is sorely missing. I had never seen her until I saw the movie, and I really liked her. So, I'm sorry she's gone. Her replacement isn't but, just not as good. I'm also sorry that I already know who was pulling the strings from the first movie.

The biggest flaw, in my opinion, is that we are walked through all their "tricks" this time, leaving the wonder that went with the first movie. I enjoyed trying to figure out how they did things, even missing the fact that some things had been set ups. They left that to the end in the first movie.

The things I missed most were the shows they put on for audiences in the first movie, and the camaraderie that they shared. Both are missing here.

All in all, the movie was a disappointment.

"Now You See Me" was a personal guilty pleasure of 2013, it was absolutely unpretentious and unbelievable but it knew it was so and with the help of a talented cast and a couple of good characters and story beats it turned out as a fine time at the theater. Its sequel starts out with the same unpretentious and fun vibe of the first only to slowly escalate up to what becomes one of the most lifeless and visually painful experiences of the year.

As I said the movie started out really fine, in the sense that it was doing what I wanted it to do. Nobody should or would walk into this film expecting the new "Heat", I just wanted to have some dumb fun, with a self referential film that doesn't take anything seriously and up to the fist two set-pieces of the film that's what I was getting. The cast was working the best they could and the action felt fluent and visually pleasing, there was a rhythm to it and a reason for it in particular.

Yet, as soon as we start getting into this film's second act things fall apart to a mind numbing degree and I mean that literally, my mind went blank with the level of stupidity and inconsequentially of what was going on, I watched this film in a state of trance where I couldn't tell if I was dozing off or simply bored to death.

"Now You See Me 2" takes the levels of suspense of disbelief to a whole new world where not even laughing at the film proves to be of any kind of satisfaction, everything going on is just visual noise and other than being filmed in the most uninteresting and unstylish way possible, it has no momentum, no character, it's just there for the sake of extravaganza and it keeps going on for unbelievable amounts of time and it never proves to be any kind of pleasant.

And we haven't even taken into consideration the logistical implications of what happens. It is just crazy. There is no grit of grounding of actions, stuff just keeps happening on top of other stuff and without any kind of character or story implications the film becomes more of a showcase of dull visual tricks. Not to mention the story twists it spices in which are preposterous to even think about and sprinkled with silly clichés and dialogue that not even Ruffalo or Freeman, two of the greatest actors, manage to make even passable.

I got a head ache from this movie, it was a terrible experience, I don't recommend it and the shortness of my review is reflective of how lost with words I am about it.

I could have written this review for 'Now You See Me I', as my appreciation for Tyler's work started there, but I thought I'd skip it, as he outdid himself in the second part. Yes, the NYSM films are arguably one of the most plot hole ridden franchises in Hollywood (not speaking about the non-decision if magic now is actually an existing thing or not), but strangely I found that after watching the first one and simply accepting the aforementioned fact I was able to really enjoy the second one. And I will re-view the first one as well with this attitude. Those are simply enjoyable films with good actors, nice scenery and lighthearted stories. But I want to direct your focus on something else I rarely read about here: The music by Brian Tyler. You may say about him what you want, but he really created an exception here. In our times, real pop-rock drums (I am not talking programmed drums and loops) as addition to orchestral music have fallen out of grace - Tyler was one of the first to bring them back. And boy, he knows how. In my world, the NYSM score is one of the most inventive soundtracks of our time. Not only does Tyler create a really powerful combination of orchestral and pop/rock music, he also manages to deliver a theme (or leitmotif) one is able to whistle after leaving the theater - also something that is not standard anymore, as soundtracks have become more like acoustic wallpaper these days. The music is really versatile in the most profound way. Just listen to 'The Setup' as a prime example. He morphs through all kinds of style from pop, rock, soul, swing and jazz in one single piece. And his real drums lend a power to the music that is unprecedented. Others have also started to incorporate this style of drumming in their music, but never as virtuosic as Tyler does here. If you like popcorn flicks, give the NYSMs try, and if you're into movie scores, keep your ears open. An oh, by the way: Listen to 'Can you dig it', his end title version of 'Iron Man 3' - it's right up there on the same level.

While the previous film was full of intrigue, mystery, and revelations, this film is a pale comparison to it's prequel. With considerably less action and more talk, the first half of the film manages to bore the audience. As well, this film gives off the feeling of trying too hard to be like the first one that it just falls short.

The acting is fine enough for the Horsemen, as they all reprise their roles. I did like Isla Fisher and her character, but unfortunately she got replaced by Lizzy Caplan, who isn't so bad either. I had a problem with Radcliffe's character. He was too weird, and his background was not very comprehensive. I also found out how short he actually is in this film. In addition, the film introduces Merritt's twin brother, Chase, played by Woody Harrelson. That was another no-no. Though the editing was done well enough between the two characters, the hair on 'Chase' was very obviously a wig which was unnerving. Needless to say, I found that the new characters were not a great addition.

As for the narrative, it kind of continues the story from the first film, but not in as much detail. As well, there are more elements involved in this film that detracts attention away from the main plot. This is what made it messy; with too many things going on the audience doesn't know which to focus on. And with no focus, the narrative just becomes jumbled up.

The effects are cool as usual. I especially liked the scene where they're tossing a card to each other. Visuals and coordination are nicely done there, and managed to engage the audience.

The ending felt a little too deja vu from the first one. As mentioned, it tries too hard to be like its predecessor that it just destroys itself. I'm not saying the film is not enjoyable, but while it isn't totally horrible, there is too much dialogue and not enough action. I'd liked to have seen more tricks, and less new characters who hardly had any foundation.

"Now You See Me 2" rides the wave of its predecessor's success, bringing back the charismatic crew of illusionists known as the Four Horsemen for another round of thrilling heists and magical escapades. With a fresh take on the premise, this sequel dives deeper into the world of magic while introducing new challenges and compelling characters.

The film's ensemble cast, including Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, and Lizzy Caplan, along with the addition of Daniel Radcliffe, brings a lively energy to the screen. Each performer showcases not only their magical talents but also their comedic chops, resulting in several humorous moments amidst the tension. The visuals are once again a standout feature, with impressive tricks and elaborate setups that keep the audience on the edge of their seats.

"Now You See Me 2" does face some challenges. While the complexity of the plot can be intriguing, it sometimes feels overwhelming and convoluted, making it difficult for viewers to fully engage with the story. Certain twists may come across as forced or predictable, detracting from the overall suspense that the film aims to build.

While the film excels in spectacle, it occasionally neglects character development, making it harder for audiences to connect with some of the newer additions to the cast. The first film's charm and camaraderie among the Four Horsemen feel somewhat diluted this time around.

"Now You See Me 2" offers an entertaining blend of magic, humor, and heist thrills that will satisfy fans of the original. While it may stumble in narrative coherence and character depth, the film remains a visually captivating experience that delivers enough fun to make it worth a watch. Just prepare to suspend some disbelief for the best enjoyment!