Just say the magic word.
Whatever that word is and no matter how many times I say it, I just don't see the magic happen in this movie. It had an interesting premise, but it failed to deliver the final act into something magical and memorable.
The movie is about four magicians who call themselves "The Four Horsemen" who sets up a series of bank heist and give all the money they get to their audience. Not everything is as easy as it seems though since they now find themselves in a game of cat and mouse against the FBI. The Four Horsemen must now always stay one step ahead in order to complete their mission and avoid getting caught.
Although the movie did not satisfy until the very end, it was not all that bad. The movie's star-studded cast was one of the things worth praising. The different actors and actresses who made a name for themselves in Hollywood didn't fail to deliver with their acting despite having cardboard cutout characters to portray. They managed to bring life to the story of the movie and were definitely not overshadowed by the special effects which were also magical. The special effects used were extraordinary and above normal for the average tricks of your magicians. The editing were good as well and didn't disappoint. These things are actually given and expected especially from a movie with magic as its gimmick, so it was a job well done for them to have executed it nicely.
With regards to the plot of the movie, it actually showed great potential and could have been a great movie if not for its problematic ending. What makes a mystery thriller film like this one work is its buildup of clues throughout the film which encourages the audience to throw in their guesses for the big surprise. In addition to this, the surprise must not only make complete sense by the end but it should also bring conclusion to all doubts and questions by the audience. Sadly, the movie's final trick failed to mesmerize the audience. Technically speaking, the big surprise did make sense if you look back but it doesn't give justice to the story. Rather than feeling awe and wonder after this magic ride, you'll actually feel like you've been cheated. All those magic, action and story, wasted into something trivial and petty.
Now You See Me is a movie that I'm not exactly thrilled to see twice. Their famous line in the film is "The closer you look, the less you actually see." Forgive me for looking closer and trying to see depth and meaning in an otherwise shallow movie but even the farther I go, I still don't see much from it.
Rating: 3/5
