At last a "Threequel" that delivers

Rating: 7/10 (13 June 2007)

After the dullness of Spiderman 3, and the shipwreck that was Pirates 3, it was with much trepidation that I went to watch Ocean's Thirteen. The first (Clooney) film was frothy fun, the second an indulgent, over-stuffed turkey. Thankfully Soderbergh and THAT cast have returned to Vegas, pared back the tiresome romance aspects that so bogged down the second one (no Roberts, no Zeta-Jones), and upped the joke quantity and quality. Yes the plot is over-complicated and un-believable. Yes it is frequently preposterous, but you just don't care. There are quality jokes throughout this joppy jape, and are perfectly delivered by the cast - all of whom are at the top of their game. It is telling that Pacino - so often blasting his co-stars clean off the screen - is almost sidelined here. He's good, but a bit flat. Ditto for Barkin, who just can't do ditsy and sexy and professional and bitchy all at once, which is a shame because her scenes with Damon (also excellent) are great fun. Add in the terrific double act of Casey Affleck and Scott Caan (with a whole Mexican sub-plot to themselves that is hilarious), and the film is already on the up. More quality characterisation from Eddie Izzard, a nice expansion on Terry Benedict from Andy Garcia, and Carl Reiner delivering his usual class. But the dependable double act of Clooney and Pitt help keep the film whizzing on. Delivering quality lines and preposterous exposition with perfect deadpan faces and sublime timing (one word - Oprah!) it makes you wish they would make more movies together. Soderburgh shoots with his typical style and colourful eye and the film moves a decent clip. The best threequel of the year and second best 'Ocean' movie. Fun.