Tricks are new, plot .....aged

Rating: 6/10 (30 October 2013)

I was drawn to rent this film based upon the trailers and TV spots. I'll confess a slight aversion to the work of Mr. Eisenberg, who inexplicably annoys me. The movie also stars Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman in supporting roles.
My reviews will never give away significant plot twists or spoilers but you might want to know what the movie is actually about.
Four moderately successful (depending on your measure) street magicians are summoned by an unknown party for initiation into "The Eye". "The Eye" is an ancient secret society of magicians who "protect real magic from those who would use it to rob, steal"....vote the wrong way...etc. In order to be accepted, you must follow instructions with blind obedience and be a pretty talented illusionist. The rest of the plot centers around a series of high profile robberies and pursuit of the magicians by the FBI and a professional "de-bunker" of magic (Freeman).
Where the film works: A very talented cast. James Franco's younger brother Dave does very well. Harrelson is great and ended up with most of the movies funniest lines. As the group's "mentalist"/hypnotist, he is also arguably the most dangerous. Caine & Freeman could bring complexity and depth to reading ads for the 64th street Hy-vee meat counter, so you know they are always solid. Obviously the movie is going to contain some wild and exciting stunts that stretch the SOD (suspension of disbelief), but they play well. Where the film let me down a little: Since "you've gotta put a girl in it", Mélanie Laurent, is cast as a French Interpol agent. She is sent to America to work with the FBI. Ruffalo plays the FBI agent, but his performance is lacking in depth. ((Hmmmmmmm .... man.....woman.......I wonder what is gonna happen with that.....)) Honestly, what I disliked the most was that I was expected to root for criminals. Not a new plot line, but I didn't particularly find the justification for larceny that compelling and a number of hi-jinks they pulled in order to escape capture (in the real world) could have easily led to the harm of hundreds of innocent people. The "sexual content" referenced in the MPAA rating relates to a couple of brief non-explicit comments. There is profanity/vulgarity and a couple of fight scenes (very well choreographed, I must admit)
My wife only said "Come on.....(side eye)" a handful of times, so it isn't entirely preposterous. My rating : 6.5 out of 10 (a little better than average, but just "ok")