Beware...the gang's all here.

Rating: 5/10 (1 July 2005)

Not everything Steven Soderbergh touches turns to gold. OCEAN'S ELEVEN(2001)had star power and substance and a big bang for your buck. OCEAN'S TWELVE has star power and...well star power in a movie that does not seem to deliver. Less flash. Less pizazz. This sequel finds Danny Ocean(George Clooney)in a financial dilemma. Terry Benedict(Andy Garcia), victim of the great heist a few years ago, has tracked down Danny and the gang and tells them he wants all of his money back with interest. Knowing that most members of the eleven are deeply in debt, Ocean and buddy Rusty Ryan(Brad Pitt)put the crew back together and head to Europe to put together a job that will pay well and sustain Ocean's reputation. A very clever caper and stunning locals like Paris, Rome and Amsterdam still leaves this flick a bit flat. The best part of this movie is the addition of Catherine Zeta-Jones as a heist savvy detective.
Close ups of Clooney and Pitt does not a movie make. Also part of this ensemble of stars: Matt Damon, Bernie Mac, Elliott Gould, Casey Afflect and yes...Julia Roberts. Anyone tired of the toothsome smile of Roberts yet? Maybe a good idea would be watch this one right after the original...and just maybe some of the cunning, electric spirited entertainment will linger.