Review of Now You See Me 2 (2016) by Jeremy R — 28 Oct 2016

OK. A cool idea. After Big Insurance, go get the Big Data, data analytics guys who are gunking up the online world. A lot of production money is on the screen in pursuit of them. But there are so many moving parts that it's hard to achieve a willing suspension of disbelief.

And the CGI & trick photography was a bit too obvious in the computer room where the card trickery went too long and unbelievably. Lizzy? Will watch her read the phone book. But something wasn't quite right in her casting & usage.

Twin Woodies? Too much. Macau? Very cool & scenic. But here again, more moving parts - and stunts even 007 wouldn't try. Magicians on motorbikes? The kitchen sink. The occultic-like opener? It didn't really connect with what was to come.

In all, a fun watch. But some of the original's charm is missing. It came back toward the end but there were so many loose ends to wrap - and the resolution was too convoluted to be truly satisfying.

Maybe Chu was the wrong director for this. Probably. Paul Haggis, a master at intertwining storylines might've been good. Spielberg? We wish. Copperfield as a co-producer? Seems right but might have been wrong for the film.

Sequels are a tough gig when the first show was such a surprise hit. Superseding the first would've required some real magic ... and skill.