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Now You See Me is probably more likable and fun than it is good/well-made, but I loved every second of it, even when things might be predictable the pleasure of seeing how they play out trumps my little gripes.

If I may humbly suggest, as alternative to wigwam's recommendation, Deceptive Practice: The Mysteries and Mentors of Ricky Jay, which is a real magic movie, wherein the verbal recounting of tricks performed decades ago is genuinely more thrilling, moving and magical than any of the overwrought visuals and forgettable set pieces in Now You See Me.*

*Let's not even get started with how much this film cribs from Ricky Jay, staring with a silly exaggeration of his "cards as weapons" bit

wigwam wrote:Now You See Me is probably more likable and fun than it is good/well-made, but I loved every second of it, even when things might be predictable the pleasure of seeing how they play out trumps my little gripes.

I disagree. I felt like the plot was a mess and the final reveal was disappointing. Not too mention the actors were treated like props.

For all its flash and bombast, this is pretty old fashioned entertainment, corralling a gaggle of likable movie stars and letting them coast by on easy charm while expensive-looking complications unfold all around them. Almost no part of this silly film makes sense, but it ultimately doesn't really need to adhere to logic to make its bombast palatable. The film is absurd, unable to withstand any real scrutiny, and yet, as mentioned above, it's a lot of fun and is exactly the kind of product Hollywood should be selling as blockbuster tentpoles: twisty light shows of flash and extravagance that are the ultimate in disposable distraction. This is hardly art or great cinema, and I can't wait for the sequel.

And all of my positives can be CC:ed to the equally entertaining sequel, Now You See Me 2. Gloriously stupid and fun, I think it's hilarious that sincere fans of the first film hated this one for doubling down on the absurdity and plot contrivances, as that's where the charm lies. Every second of the film is gratuitous in the best fashion-- the film is not just empty, it revels in the sheer unnecessariness of its existence. In many ways it's the perfect sequel of its kind. I could hardly fault anyone here for passing either of these films over, but there's something to be said for well-made fluff like this.

Now You See Me 3 had too much rhyming in it

But hopefully the inevitable fourth film will be "Now You 4-See Me"

colinr0380 wrote: Sun May 04, 2025 12:43 am But hopefully the inevitable fourth film will be "Now You 4-See Me"

What about “4 Now You See Me”?

Me See You Now