Ocean's Twelve...or Thirteen...or Seventeen...whatever

Rating: 8/10 (18 January 2005)

"Ocean's Eleven" is one of my favorite recent movies, as it seamlessly excels in nearly every aspect of film-making. So of course I eagerly anticipated the release of this sequel, "Ocean's Twelve", although I did not expect a movie that matched up to the superb original.
All of the actors and characters from that first film are back. The premise picks up about a year after the conclusion of "Eleven", as Andy Garcia's villainous Terry Benedict is hunting down the men who robbed him. He threatens harm if they don't refund his money, so the eleven must reunite to pull another heist, this time in Europe.
Infused with Soderburgh's brilliant cinematography, the first film was a smooth, sleek Hollywood production. The look matched the tone of the smooth, sleek caper pulled by the always-in-control titular crew. "Ocean's Twelve" has a drastically different feel, as the classic subdued beauty of Europe substitutes for the modern flashiness of Las Vegas. As everyone hops around the continent, the singularity of the first film is almost recklessly replaced by the atmosphere of various countries. Initially bothersome, this tone eventually clicks with the characters, who themselves are less of a machine than before. The end result has the feel of an independent film, like something a bunch of friends made while partying, but with a $110 million budget. Of course from all reports that isn't far from the truth. The good news is that the congenial atmosphere produces a movie that oozes amicability. But even that sense of camaraderie cannot mask the deficiencies elsewhere in the picture.
Most missed is the saavy overall film-making of the original. Whether it be the lack of creative shots (except for a plane landing) or the not-quite-as-crisp dialogue (throwaway lines in particular), Twelve simply isn't as much fun as the original. Granted, that's a high bar to clear, and the sequel is still better than most, but comparisons are inevitable. The Venetian blind wipes and clever use of titles spice things up; the actors' delivery is still timely; and small touches like the Boston-New York thing still shine, but ultimately the script doesn't quite measure up to the original. Instead of a tight and driving story that hoodwinks but explains fully and logically, Twelve utilizes two dei ex machina (or di or machinis or however the phrase is pluralized) that are not adequately buttressed, leaving the viewer feeling not robbed, but a little cheated.
"Eleven" was a popcorn film, if there is such a thing, while "Twelve" is more of a popcorn movie, meaning that is isn't as crisp or cohesive from a cinematic angle. Perhaps this was an purposeful choice intended to reflect the more haphazard nature of the story, but the method does not succeed as wildly.
Bottom Line: Entertaining but not quite as satisfying as the original, "Ocean's Twelve" is still better than most movies, worth a few bucks and a couple hours. 7 of 10.
As a side question, any thoughts on which character was the titular twelfth? I think there is an easy answer, but I'm not sure it's the right one. In fact, I don't have an definite opinion. I posit that it's just a silly sequel title.