Jonathan Sim
The Horsemen have reappeared for Now You See Me: Now You Don’t, the newest heist thriller about the coolest magicians in the world pulling off incredible feats. It’s been almost a decade since Now You See Me 2, and this movie needed to reintroduce audiences to these characters while bringing in something new. This new film reunites Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Dave Franco, and Isla Fisher as they attempt to steal the world’s largest queen diamond from Veronika Vanderberg (Rosamund Pike). This franchise is now modeling its villains’ names after the love interests in Adam Sandler movies, which tells you everything about how far this series has gone off the deep end and how much entertainment is on the table here.
Now You See Me: Now You Don’t gives you the magic we’ve been waiting for. Twists, turns, and tricks galore—this is a magical encore that will shock and surprise you just like a real magic show. The film opens with a Horsemen magic show in Brooklyn that takes the series back to its roots. J. Daniel Atlas, Merritt McKinney, Jack Wilder, and Henley Reeves take the stage, with Isla Fisher returning after her absence from the 2016 sequel. They take money from this over-the-top, comically slimy, magic-hating crypto bro and redistribute his wealth to the crowd in classic Horsemen form. We then learn this performance was coordinated not by the actual Horsemen, but by three young magicians using the Horsemen’s likenesses.
When the cast was first announced, it seemed apparent that we’d be getting a younger generation of magicians. This Gen Z group includes Dominic Sessa, the young actor who made a strong impression in The Holdovers. In the role of Bosco Leroy, he once again proves to be a charismatic presence who can go toe to toe with anyone. He’s not the type to take anything lying down, responding to Atlas’s sarcastic insults with comebacks of his own. We also have Ariana Greenblatt, who you may remember from her roles in Barbie and Borderlands. She’s another likable presence in her role as June, a role that feels like a spiritual successor to Jack Wilder. She’s combat-ready and has an affinity for lockpicking and pickpocketing. Rounding out our new supporting cast is Justice Smith, another major actor who has seen roles in Jurassic World movies, Pokémon Detective Pikachu, and last year’s critically acclaimed I Saw the TV Glow. He’s a more soft-spoken, apologetic person, operating behind the scenes as a secret magic encyclopedia and the designer of the new magicians’ tricks.
It can be a risk to throw in three new young characters into this well-established ensemble, but these three actors are wonderful additions. They each bring something new and fresh to this franchise, all giving humor and fun to this magical series. When director Jon M. Chu took the reins from Louis Leterrier in 2016’s Now You See Me 2, he retained the fun while also infusing a darker edge, with more somber scenes, such as the death of Lionel Shrike, Dylan being forced to recreate his father’s death, and some meaner, scarier villains. Now You See Me: Now You Don’t is directed by Ruben Fleischer, who has previously helmed Venom, Uncharted, and has directed Eisenberg and Harrelson together in the Zombieland movies. His filmography matches the tone here: lighter, more entertaining, and embracing the joys of the heist genre.
One of the most enjoyable aspects of any heist movie is witnessing impossible feats, and then later, we go back and see everything from a different perspective to learn how they did it. This movie achieves the same effect, and the characters pull it off with misdirection, sleight of hand, and smoke and mirrors. If anything, these films serve as a reminder of how cool magic can be. The cherry on top is the fact that Fleischer aimed to make the magic more practical and in-camera than in its predecessors. The best sequence in Now You See Me: Now You Don’t is one that doesn’t actually contribute anything to the plot: it’s a long, unbroken shot where our ensemble takes turns performing magic tricks for each other. It’s there purely for our entertainment, and the fact that it’s done in one take solidifies how real all of it is.
The story kicks into gear when Atlas tracks down the young magicians and enlists them to help him take down Veronika Vanderberg. Rosamund Pike’s portrayal of Veronika is devious, proving she doesn’t need any facial hair to twirl that mustache. She also dons an accent that might take some getting used to, but she really commits to it. Filled with surprises, this movie has many tricks up its sleeve. The first movie has one of the more shocking twists in cinematic history, offering a reveal that’s virtually impossible to see coming. The second film has a shocking moment near the end that leaves you practically waiting for a big reveal you’ve already started to work out in your head. Now You See Me: Now You Don’t has a jaw-dropping twist at the end that works very well.
All in all, this movie works. Like the other films, there are some dumb ideas, and we’re not immune to the occasional poorly written moment, with some dialogue that falls short. These movies thrive on convenience and perfect timing, so credibility is occasionally strained. However, with a film that moves at such a rapid pace and gives you so much to enjoy, it’s hard not to feel that childlike wonder. Now You See Me: Now You Don’t is a dazzling crowd-pleaser that seeks to entertain the masses. It’s funny, fresh, and full of magic. You won’t want to look away.
SCORE: ★★★
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