Fun for the moment

Rating: 6/10 (26 April 2005)

So i finally decided to see "Ocean's Twelve". And i must say that it was above expectation. I feel the movie has been rather unfairly treated in the media, at least here in Sweden. But then again i never considered "Ocean's Eleven" to be a masterpiece either so perhaps it has mostly to do with expectation.
"Ocean's Eleven" was an entertaining movie no doubt. But the whole almost legendary status that it's gotten is pretty much beyond me. Sure it had loads of good actors, a fun sense of humor and was pretty nice all around. It was good entertainment for the moment, and in that respect it was among the best of it's genre. But a masterpiece? Not really.
Perhaps this is also why i can accept "Ocean's Twelve" more easily than many other people. The actors are still there, the style of the movie is pretty much the same and the comedy is also same brand as in the first movie. What is somewhat lacking here might be good ideas. It seems like in the first movie they knew exactly what kind of movie they wanted to make, they had a decent idea that (while being very far from original) worked. Also they had a plan when it came to using all the obvious talent in the cast to best effect. Here that plan seems to be missing. Also the movie has a problem with pacing, the first half is rather slow and it's not until the second half that the pace is picked up properly.
Heist-movies pretty much follow a very strict formula and the "Ocean's"-movies are no different. Cool people stealing things in a ridiculously complicated way. Added to all the famous names from the first movie is also french actor Vincent Cassel who is always a colorful addition to any movie he stars in. Despite his french antagonist, and despite the obvious attempts to leave the heist-formula a little bit, this movies greatest problem is still that we've seen it all done before.
In short this is not a movie to remember, but i found it decent entertainment while it lasted. "Ocean's Eleven" is a better movie, but not by as much as people seem to think. I rate this 6/10.