A bit all over the place but ultimately entertaining

Rating: 7/10 (8 February 2016)

Lots of bad reviews out there for this but I didn't hate it. It is a bit all over the place though so that even with the fantastic cast, original story and all the flash it just failed to impress me much in the execution. It sorta feels 'Oceans'ish except with a with a group of magicians known as "The Four Horsemen" who pull off brazen heists during their performances, the proceeds of which they share with the audiences. This raises the attention of FBI agent (Mark Ruffalo) who spends the rest of the movie trying to catch them.
Its a caper film and very watchable, in fact there were moments were I thought it was going to be a really good movie but it never quite lives up to itself. Some parts of it are clever, others stupid. A lot of the story happens off screen then is just briefly explained by the characters or assumed by the viewer. There's a big car chase in the middle that comes out of nowhere and a crazy lukewarm romance going on between Ruffalo and a French Interpol agent. Towards the end it becomes almost fantasy-like with shades of 'National Treasure' thrown in and the actual ending just goes on and on; its over, wait another sub ending, another explanation, the credits, another thrown in bit scene.
I did enjoy the extended cast though, as well as the initial set up and coming together of The Horsemen (Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher and Dave Franco) The banter between them is entertaining and there's also Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman who are such pros they can do no wrong. 1/10/16