The very definition of cinematic fluff

Rating: Null/10 (6 February 2006)

After the considerable success of "Ocean's 11" (itself a remake of a chummy Rat Pack 60's movie), Clooney and Co. returned for this flashy, but fairly empty, sequel. Set a few years after the casino heist of the original, this film has Garcia (the mark in the first caper) threatening Clooney and his gang with death unless they pay back every cent of what they stole, plus interest! (This despite the fact that he's already received an insurance settlement!) Since the eleven men have already spent more than a little of the dough from their caper, they must come up with a plan to steal even more, this time traveling to Europe. Following one unsuccessful attempt on a wealthy recluse, the team conspires to snatch a priceless Faberge egg for a fellow thief (Cassel) who has agreed to pay off their debt if they can capture the item. Unfortunately, Cassel actually makes things harder for the team as he wants to maintain his reputation as the world's premiere burglar! Things fall apart fairly quickly, forcing Clooney's wife Roberts to attempt to aid him (in one of the film's most controversial plot maneuvers.) The film alternates somewhat uncomfortably between loud, frenetic moments and languorous, quirky ones. The director is to be admired for attracting all of the original cast members for this sequel, no matter how little they are utilized in the plot (some of the actors on view have precious little to do), though they were surely compensated with lots of good times on location as noted in the press throughout filming. Clooney and Pitt still look good and provide some interesting moments and Zeta-Jones is great as the fly in their ointment, an investigator. Damon also does a fine job as the novice, trying to break through to the big time. However, there just isn't room to showcase the rest of the large supporting cast, especially with the many other billed and unbilled cameo appearances. Most of them are merely furniture in the sprawling tale. They take a back seat to showy cameos by folks like Jones and Willis. Garcia is pretty ridiculous, wielding a stick and strutting around in some bizarre get-ups. This time around, the methods and plot twists of the caper can't possibly be taken entirely seriously. It's all just too preposterous and fanciful to hold up to close scrutiny. Better to take the film as the unrepentant piece of fluff that it is and try to enjoy some of the beautiful locations, the glossy production design and the appeal of its leading players. Still, all that can only go so far in trying to put over a movie that is more than two hours long. At times it seems like Soderburgh and Clooney tried to throw in everything but the kitchen sink and the whole thing starts to turn in on itself. A lot of criticism was aimed at Roberts' joke on herself near the end of the film, but the bigger question is why did she go from an elegant and stylish presence in the first film to a wan and gaunt hausfrau in this one? Perhaps it was to make her transformation more distinct visually, though, to be truthful, even then she just doesn't look as good as one might expect. Did they run out of budget for some lipstick? There are a few stylish and striking moments in the film, but overall it lacks punch and certainly emotional investment as well. Most of the potentially-tense heist sequences are relayed in flashback or otherwise awkwardly handled. It's likely destined to become a camp classic several years down the pike the way some 60's films come off now.