A Worthy Addition to the Franchise
Summary
An exciting third installment to the Now You See Me franchise, this film packs a lot of magic and fun. The storyline may be a little predictable, but the combination of original cast members and new talent as well as some entertaining action scenes makes it worth seeing.
Plot: A decade after their last heist, the Four Horsemen join forces with a new generation of illusionists to bring down a criminal diamond empire.
Review: The social-activist magicians are back for a third time, ten years after their last big heist. There’s something deeply satisfying about seeing familiar characters return to a franchise years after their last hurrah—and Now You See Me: Now You Don’t taps right into that nostalgia.
Right from the start, the film sets the stage by introducing a new trio of illusionists, Charlie, Bosco, and June (played by Justice Smith, Dominic Sessa, and Ariana Greenblatt respectively). Their dynamic feels familiar, reminiscent of the original Four Housemen, who’ve now become household names. This new installment brings together a mix of old and fresh faces, and surprisingly, the generational gap doesn’t feel too wide.
Jesse Eisenberg’s Atlas takes the lead once more—still as arrogant and fearless as ever, but now stepping into the role of a reluctant mentor. The film finds a nice rhythm in the friendly rivalry between the veterans and newbies, and the signature Horsemen banter provided plenty of charm. Rosamund Pike plays the icy villain, Veronika Vanderberg, a ruthless queenpin running an international criminal network built on her family’s diamond empire. Pike is captivating in that “love-to-hate-her” way, clearly relishing every moment of her performance.
The illusions were just as extraordinary as in the first film, though perhaps not quite as shocking. The storyline followed a familiar formula, making the ending feel a bit predictable. Still, this movie sets out to entertain—and it definitely delivers on that.
This third movie brings back elements from the previous films in a playful and engaging way. From daring heists to high-speed car chases, spectacular illusions and even a magic face-off, Now You See Me: Now You Don’t was great fun.
Viewers who had the opportunity to watch an early screening at Toronto’s Scotiabank Theatre were treated to a bit of magic even before the film began: Kevin Hamdan—a professional mentalist & psychological illusionist—hosted a live pre-show and gave quite an impressive performance that perfectly set the tone for what followed. Overall, it was an entertaining experience, even for those who aren’t into magic.
Now You See Me: Now You Don’t premiers this Friday, November 14 in theatres.