Unfocused, and not as smart as it wants to be.

Rating: 5/10 (19 September 2013)

There aren't too many good magic-movies. Besides The Prestige no movie has really captured the (in lack of a better phrase) magic that a good illusion possesses. "Now You You See Me" does not help change that fact.
The premise is rather enticing. 4 magicians/hustlers are brought together by an unknown player who apparently has seen something unique in each one. One year later they're a rather successful magic act, and in their grand finale one night they apparently rob a french bank from the US. They get arrested, but for some reason the FBI lets them go despite the fact that they left a calling card, and surely had to be at least accomplices. But still it does create some fascination. How did they do this? Who are these magicians? Who is this secret character whose brought this rag tag-team together? Unfortunately the answers are less than satisfying.
In a rather sudden switch of focus, the movie from there on in mainly follows Mark Ruffalo's FBI character. It tries to build up a cat-and- mouse game. We're introduced to Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine who basically just takes up time in the movie. Which, considering the caliber of those two actors is no small feat. Freeman is supposed to be a successful magic-debunker, but his only real function in the movie is to move the plot along. Caine's character is mainly just a gruff businessman who for some reason uses most of his time jet-setting with his magic act.
The movie's biggest weakness is its utter disregard for character and plot focus. The premise is okay, but from there on in it's basically a "Let's throw ideas at the screen, and see what sticks" kind of movie. None of the characters get any kind of development. An example is the introduction of a romantic past between Eisenberg and Fisher's characters. This is actually given quite a lot of attention throughout the movie, but it's at a total standstill. Basically, the characters are cardboard-cutouts whose only function is expository speeches.
The movie tries hard to be a kind of Ocean's 11 for magic, but fails where that movie triumphs. In the former you always get a feeling that the parts of the team need each other. The heist will fall apart without it. This element is totally absent from "NYSM". The characters are given some idiotic cards which is supposed to "define"them". Harrelson's character is supposed to be some kind of mind reader, but only seems to be there for comic relief. Isla Fisher's use is also not clear. Furthermore the twists and turns in Ocean's felt somewhat believable, this is not the case in "NYSM".
That being said the movie does keep a quick tempo, and should be commended for some set pieces. The acting is rather bland, but that's mostly because of the characters. I'm sure the movie will entertain quite a few viewers. Unfortunately this movie seems to believe that it's a lot smarter than it is, and for anyone looking for satisfaction in that regard will be thoroughly disappointed. An okay popcorn movie, but riddled with so many plot holes, and disappointing pay offs that anyone looking at it with a critical eye will tear their hair out.