Now You See Me: Now You Don’t Movie Review

“Now You See Me: Now You Don’t” is the third in the franchise of the story involving  the “Four Horsemen”. It doesn’t matter that one of the “Horsemen”magicians is a woman. All of these sleight-of-hand artists have another specialty — Grand Theft Alacazam…

In the world of magic and mystery, there are the “Four Horsemen”. This is a group of magicians and performers who have used magic as a way to combat wealthy evil people and redistribute their ill-gotten gains.

This is like a giving Robin Hood a top hat and rabbit to steal from the Sherriff of Nottingham. But the ‘Horsemen’ seem to have disbanded, and now a smaller group is taking over in their place.

The little band of magical thieves stage a big show in NYC, but they appear as the “Four Horsemen”. The gang consists of Charlie (played by Justice Smith), June (played by Ariana Greenblatt), and Bosco (played by Dominic Sessa). Back in the magical hideout, they are confronted by one of the real Horsemen.

J Daniel Atlas (played by Jesse Eisenberg). Atlas tells them all that they are picked to be part of a new caper. This is planned out by a mysterious group known as “The Eye”. This is an ancient secret organization of magicians and conjurors who have been around for ages.

Atlas used to be with the original Horseman, but they have broken apart over the past ten years. So, ‘The Eye’ gets Atlas to use the talents of these up-and-coming street-wise youngsters. They are sent to Belgium, to the headquarters of the giant diamond dealer named Veronika Vanderberg (Rosamund Pike).

Her family is from South Africa, and her accent is as big as the monstrously-sized Heart Diamond. The evil company was founded by nasty Nazi lovers, and they still deal with mostly corrupt and terrible people. They use the diamond trade to cover up crime and launder dirty money.

Now low on funds, Veronika decides to auction the Heart Diamond. But Atlas, June, Charlie and Bosco use all of the trickery and deception they can muster to steal the away Diamond. Things are about close in on the heroes.

But then they have help from an unexpected source. The prior members of the Horsemen are there to assist — also being called to the scene by the mysterious ‘Eye’ organization. All help is needed, so the entire crew gets out safe.

The newly reformed Horsemen now have these original members back: Merritt (played by Woody Harrelson), Jack (played by Dave Franco), and Henley (played by Isla Fisher). Atlas is surprised that they have come together once more.

The younger set, Charlie, Bosco and June are in awe of the entire team being reassembled. But now they have a new problem, now that they taken the Heart Diamond. Where can they go next?

Veronika Vanderberg is upset, but not in a state of panic. She has a major high-level of pull in the International scene, meaning she can get these low-life thieves caught in no time. It is just a matter of finding them. The ‘Horsemen’, plus the ‘New Generation’, find some clues to go to France.

They find an old abandoned mansion. But this used to be the home of ‘The Eye’. And now it is home to another old friend — Thaddeus (played by Morgan Freeman). He was also associated with ‘The Eye’.

This crazy mansion has plenty of trick rooms, and these seem to be a wonderful distraction. But when the Police show up — everyone must flee. The mixed-up rooms give them all a chance to get a way.

However, Merritt is caught and handed over to Veronika Vanderberg. Now she has a bargaining chip, and she will get her Diamond back. Some of the team get captured by the police. There is no way that anyone can get in the station to help them out.

Unless there is a person associated with team but has not shown up yet. Could that be Lula (played by Lizzy Caplan) — who was involved with the second big caper that the ‘Four Horsemen’ worked on? In that big heist, Henley was not available.

So the rest of the Horsemen worked with fellow fledgling magician Lula. The group discovers that once they are together, they need to find a way to deal with Veronika. They will go to Abu Duabi to meet up with her.

Veronika Vanderberg is in that Arab country for an F1 racing event. Her new-found friend Merritt will be traded for recently stolen Heart Diamond. The re-assembled (and expanded) ‘Four Horseman’ team is now planning a new scheme that is so outrageous and so over-the-top that it just might work.

But a big part of the deception will rely on Charlie. He is the best at overall planning and making a con look so real that almost nobody can tell the truth from the fiction. It will be up to Atlas, Jack and Henley — assisted by Charlie, June, Bosco and Lula — to pull the wool over everyone’s eyes.

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“Now You See Me: Now You Don’t” is a fun way to continue the tradition of the magical heist movies that started with “Now You See Me”. This is a world-wide romp of preposterous proportions. But centered in the middle of the silly tricks and illusions is a solid group of fine actors doing crowd-pleasing performances.

This movie follows in the tradition of the first two. It is a large ensemble of magicians who are pulling a major trick on a wealthy individual. That powerful person who has stolen money from a lot a people will get a huge comeuppance. The way it all comes about is a clever act of misdirection and magic.

All of the acting is fun to watch, and the action is quick and frantic. The locations go around the world. With so much of a plot to explain, there tends to be a big dump of exposition. There are enough magicians around; you would think there might be a way they might make some of that excessive talk disappear.

“Now You See Me: Now You Don’t” is a new adventure of the group of magicians who take on the evil people and make them pay – with a magical heist where they commit Grand Theft Abracadabra.