Directed by Ruben Fleischer, “Now You See Me: Now You Don’t,” released on Nov. 14 by Lionsgate, is the third film in the “Now You See Me” film series, serving as a sequel to “Now You See Me 2.”
The film grossed $209 million worldwide but earned mixed reviews, with a 61% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes. However, audiences gave it a better rating of 81%.
Set 10 years after the Horsemen’s last show, the story follows Charlie, played by Justice Smith, Bosco LeRoy, played by Dominic Sessa, and June Rouclere, played by Ariana Greenblatt. These newcomers impersonate the Horsemen to rob a corrupt crypto exchange.
They are found and recruited by J. Daniel Atlas, played by Jesse Eisenberg, for a heist targeting the “Heart Diamond” from Veronika Vanderberg, played by Rosamund Pike.
The original Horsemen, Merritt McKinney, played by Woody Harrelson, Jack Wilder, played by Dave Franco, Henley Reeves, played by Isla Fisher and Thaddeus Bradley, played by Morgan Freeman, reunite with Atlas, alongside Lula May, played by Lizzy Caplan.
So, what is there to say about the film? I found this film lacking in originality. Don’t get me wrong, I loved the film; however, some things could have been done better.
For example, I loved the introduction of new characters, Charlie, Bosco and June. They were a great addition to the film. Out of the three, my favorite was Bosco. No matter what character he is with in the scene, it is fun to watch them together. He has excellent chemistry with the entirety of the cast.
Pike is definitely the best actor of the new cast. From her mannerisms to her accent, she plays an interesting character. Unlike the antagonists of the first two films, she feels carefree. Even though Veronika is a rather manipulative criminal, the way Pike played her made me think that her character was rather harmless.
As for the original cast, well, I love them all. Atlas is, as always, an arrogant showman with unwavering confidence in his intellect. Merritt is a sarcastic mentalist with sharp humor. Jack is the same old pickpocket and lockpicker. Henley is the same escapologist who clearly struggles to escape the life of being a Horseman Robin Hood. Lula, my second favorite after Merritt, is a chaotic wildcard who is unabashedly herself.
Now, let’s talk about the negatives. The film was a recycled version of the first two films. Some critics even called it “franchise fatigue,” which I agree with. For example, the film’s ending is almost identical to the second: the villains are tricked into believing they are in one place, but in fact they are in another.
Another repetitive element that amplifies the franchise fatigue in this film is the theme of revenge and legacy. In the first film, we saw Dylan Rhodes, played by Mark Ruffalo, getting his revenge for his father’s death.
Despite these repetitive elements, the film is fascinating to watch, though I wouldn’t rewatch it in the near future. Overall, “Now You See Me: Now You Don’t” is a good movie, I just wish it were a little bit more original.
