Now You See Me Now You Don’t is the third installment of the magician franchise.
In this film, our original group of magicians (our four horsemen), along with three new magicians: Charlie, played by Justice Smith, Bosco, played by Dominic Sessa, and June, played by Ariana Greenblatt. ‘
Together, they work to steal the world’s largest diamond from Veronika Vanderberg, the matriarch of a huge diamond company.
The film stars award-winning actor Jesse Eisenberg as J. Daniel Atlas, Emmy-winning actor Woody Harrelson as Merritt McKinney, award-winning actor Dave Franco as Jack Wilder, Isla Fisher as Henley Reeves, Academy Award-nominated actress Rosamund Pike as Veronika Vanderberg, our main antagonist, and Oscar-winning actor Morgan Freeman as Thaddeus Bradley.
This installment was directed by Emmy award-winning filmmaker Ruben Fleischer, whose vision for the film made it a suitable addition to the trilogy.
While it is not better than the first two films in the franchise, Now You See Me, Now You Don’t, is a fun time if you want to escape and lose yourself in the illusion the film creates.
The film’s production design, camera work, use of lighting, and sound all create a world of illusions that not only had me on the edge of my seat but also left me fairly entertained. Most of the film’s production took place in Abu Dhabi, with gorgeous sets that captivate throughout the film.
This film doesn’t take itself too seriously, which allows the audience to let loose in the world the filmmakers created. It was packed with action and filled with interesting magic tricks.
The film doesn’t stand alone as a sequel due to the many reunions that take place, which will leave new viewers puzzled if they haven’t seen the first two films in the franchise.
Another concern is the dialogue. Each scene felt written by different writers. It completely diverted from the language of the last two films, and not for the better. The film doesn’t do a great job of getting you invested in the new trio of magicians.
Many times throughout the film, I found myself lost for their names and anything about them, other than the fact that they perform magic tricks as a source of income.
Considering this new trio is supposed to have the torch passed down to them from our original horsemen in the first films, I was left incredibly confused.
The standout performance of this film was Domic Sessa as Besco, who fit right in with the original horsemen.
The music score in the film was also incredible and did a great job evoking the right emotions during the more emotional scenes. I wish the film had spent more time with them.
The J-cuts used in the film, along with the camera angles, were pivotal in the big magic sequence that takes place at the heart of the film.
The film’s overall plot and pacing was fine, with the action picking up right away.
The 2-hour runtime is not one you feel during this film, as I was never bored.
Unfortunately, the whole premise of the movie leaves your mind as soon as you walk out of the theater, only leaving the memory of a fun night, but maybe that’s part of the illusion.
The movie was unpredictable, witty, and overall an enjoyable experience. I would rate this film a 3 out of 5.
