Now You See Me: Now You Don’t often leans on old gimmicks
NINE years after the last film, the new Now You See Me entry comes in feeling familiar in almost every way. The tricks are flashy, the pace is quick and the cast slip right back into their roles, but Now You See Me: Now You Don’t never fully shakes the sense that it is repeating a formula the franchise already locked in years ago.
This new instalment follows the return of the Four Horsemen as they are pulled into a new mission involving a high-profile diamond heist that forces them to work with a younger trio of rising magicians. As they navigate new illusions and a powerful figure determined to stop them, the Horsemen attempt to pull off a globe-spanning operation filled with misdirection, high-tech trickery and the promise of something bigger lurking behind the scenes.
Jesse Eisenberg as J. Daniel Atlas is still doing his fast-talking, neurotic thing. Woody Harrelson as Merritt McKinney and Dave Franco’s Jack Wilder are fun but noticeably underused. Isla Fisher as Henley Reeves finally returns after missing the second film, although the movie does not give her much room to shine. Morgan Freeman’s Thaddeus Bradley gets a sendoff that feels strangely small considering how important he has been to the series.
The new cast is fine but not game-changing. Justice Smith as Charlie and Dominic Sessa as Bosco LeRoy bring a fresh dynamic, though Bosco’s whole impressionist talents are underused especially in the final act. Ariana Greenblatt as June Rouclere has good presence but her skill set feels too similar to Franco’s, so she never really stands out.
Rosamund Pike’s Veronika Vanderberg as the villain feels very flat – her motivations are basic, and the accent choice is distracting rather than interesting. Daniel Radcliffe in the second film was far more entertaining.
The movie does have moments that work. There is a nicely choreographed single-take scene where everyone shows off different tricks, and overall there are fewer impossible illusions this time.
The problem with the heists in this movie is that none of it feels truly high stakes. They are chasing a giant diamond and the movie tries to make it seem like a big deal, but the tension never builds. Nothing feels dangerous. No one feels like they could actually lose.
The biggest issue is simply having too many characters and not enough story to hold them together. People disappear for long stretches and reappear suddenly, and the emotional beats never fully land. The big twist is also easy to see coming.
And then there is the ending. Once again, the Eye pops in with the same message about how the Horsemen are “only getting started”. It was exciting when the franchise was new, but now it feels repetitive. The series keeps promising more but never actually reveals anything about the Eye beyond vague hints.
Three movies in, Now You See Me is edging into Fast and Furious territory where it risks dragging on because the brand is familiar, not because the story needs to continue. There is still entertainment value and some clever moments, but the sense of wonder and surprise is fading.
Now You See Me: Now You Don’t is fun enough for a casual watch, but the magic is not as sharp as it used to be.
