Oh No You Don't

Rating: 7/10 (19 June 2013)

Review: I believe anything is worth seeing at least once, especially so for an original idea; magicians that rob a bank, how has this not been done before? Which is why I was particularly excited to go see "Now You See Me". However, I am somewhat superstitious when it comes to watching movies in theatres, every time during a movie when someone leans over and whispers to me something like "this is actually pretty good", my expectations start to dip, and with that they are met. It's almost a self fulfilling prophecy I think a film is about to head down hill and it does.
"Now You See Me", is a perfect analogy for Common's film career, as well as his starring role in the movie. The scenes that lead the audience through the first two acts of this movie are all very enjoyable. The action is of course fun to watch and well staged, and the characters, though all mostly one dimensional are played by good looking (the women anyway) and very charismatic actors, and the film has many funny moments. I felt duped though as the magicians themselves are pretty much sidelined, and the majority of the screen time is given to Mark Ruffalo. It's the Ruffalo show! His romantic sub-plot with Melanie Laurent really doesn't go too far or is that compelling, which is ridiculous. Because it seems Mark Ruffalo phones it in here, yet how can you not fall in love with Melanie Laurent? (shown below) In short on that matter, I'll just say its not on the "13 Going On 30" level of romantic tension.
Oooh stop it! Melanie Laurent you are too cute! The Director can't quite pull all the threads in this film together. The whole film hypes up its ending as something to amaze, but it seems to lack any meaningful resolution or conclusion in my opinion. I mean it all comes together, just not with much sense A lot of it just kind of happens, entertaining but meaningless. As the credits suddenly rolled I was left disappointed and bewildered knowing the marketing team got the slight of hand on me. Overall Scale: +1