Shockingly disappointing

Rating: 4/10 (20 October 2016)

"Now You See Me" has such a great hook - an illusionist "Ocean's Eleven" - but it also has serious problems. One of them is that for such a sterling cast, there's very little in the way of likable characters. One, actually, and he takes the fall in the end. But it's hard to see good actors playing awful characters (Woody Harrelson's the one who escapes largely unscathed because he's Woody Harrelson) and it speaks to the flimsy writing. This movie plays fast and loose with internal consistency, straining credibility way beyond acceptable limits. I could even stomach the completely artificial ending if the rest of the movie was grounded in some kind of reality. But all of the tricks and sleights of hand are just flashy effects - these people are more superheroes than magicians.
It all really comes down to having a laugh at your audience, which this movie does with glee. Add in the intolerable smugness, A.D.D. camera-work and editing and this isn't an ounce of fun.
4/10