Now You See Me (Louis Leterrier, 2013): France, USA

Reviewed by Lauren Sousa.  Viewed at Metropolitan Plaza del Oro Theater.

The main motif of Now You See Me is that by looking too close, audiences often miss how, exactly, a magic trick is executed. It turns out this is actually a brilliant irony: if you look too close, you may, indeed, see just how much unfortunate and unnecessary CGI went into making the magic you see onscreen.

That irony starts from the very first, when in an opening sequence lifted directly from Ocean’s Eleven, each of four magicians performs their signature trick. There’s The Showman (Jesse Eisenberg), The Mentalist, The Girl (Isla Fisher) and The Young One Who Has to Prove Himself Before the Final Act. Only the second ever does anything interesting or concrete with his powers, and none of the characters are defined beyond these shockingly broad types.

All four magicians are summoned to an empty apartment in New York City at the same time by the use of cards which could have been very clever but are in fact completely useless. They proceed to form a group called The Four Horsemen, which becomes incredibly popular because their signature trick involves giving their audience large sums of money; this is also why they are investigated by FBI Agent Whoever and a spineless Interpol agent with a genuine belief in magic (Mélanie Laurent).

This movie just isn’t very good, but it’s interesting to watch because it could have been. If, for example, the movie had been as smart as it apparently thinks that it is, the ending would be much more satisfying. If the mythology upon which the entire plot hinges had been better thought-out, the investigation wouldn’t have looked so silly. If the characters had more than one dimension, they would have been more interesting to watch. As it is, it’s good enough dumb fun for an entertaining afternoon. There are a few genuinely good scenes, and some of the special effects, while obvious, are unusual enough that it’s fun to see how they are done, but overall, like its characters and story, the film never rises above its type as a mid-summer blockbuster unconcerned with anything more than playing out its exciting concept in a manner that, while not entirely predictable, lacks the imagination to make itself the fun, intelligent chase thriller it so desperately wants to be.

About this entry

You’re currently reading “Now You See Me (Louis Leterrier, 2013): France, USA,” an entry on Student Film Reviews

Published:
10.18.13 / 5pm
Category:
Films