Now You See Me- Movie Review

Now You See Me- Movie Review

With the downtime I have right now in my TV schedule I'm trying to get some movies watched before it gets hectic again with the new fall premieres. This movie has been in my PVR box for awhile, so I was happy to finally find time to watch it. For me the most appealing thing about this movie was the large cast. This movie features Jesse Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher, Dave Franco, Morgan Freeman, Common and Michael Caine. 

Going into this movie I was prepared for it to be full of CGI effects. I usually complain a lot about CGI being used in the movies when it's not necessary. If they are using it for things that actually exist in real life it drives me up the wall. Obviously because of the subject of the movie they needed to use CGI effects and I think it worked out well.

The movie started out as more of a fantasy drama but in the middle of it, it turns more into a cop drama. It's like the movie suffered an identity crisis. It had me interested right until the police chase scene, which was long and then they had me again after the chase scene. It just seemed very out of place and unnecessary long. 

I am the first person to complain when too much time is given for character back story but in this case I feel there wasn't enough, especially for Dave Franco's character (Jack Wilder). In the beginning of the movie we see him attempt a magic trick with spoons for people on a boat. Once someone notices the extra spoons up his sleeves and in his back pocket he makes a getaway but not before stealing someones wallet and watch. Later in the movie when we see him fight with the cops, he pulls out moves like a ninja. No where in his back story did it say that he was a black belt or trained in physical combat. 

My main complaint came at the end of the movie after you find out who the fifth horseman is who is playing puppet master and setting up all of the elaborate magic tricks. It's discovered that Mark Ruffalo's character Dylan Rhodes is the fifth horseman. In the movie they mention a great magician who died attempting to perform a magic trick back in the day. Turns out that the dead magician is Dylan's father. So basically his whole life is one big set up for these magic tricks to get back at the insurances companies and people that did his family wrong after his dads death. For him to have set up all these tricks he spent his whole life and career becoming a police office in order to be put on this one case. That is seriously far fetched. Plus knowing that, the police chase scene was especially pointless and just to throw the audience off. Why would Dylan try and capture the four people that are helping him complete his magic tricks and get revenge on the people who did him wrong? It just doesn't make any logical sense. 

Essentially, this movie is just a magic trick on the audience. There are no clues given that would lead the audience to figure out who the fifth horseman is before it's revealed. In order to watch the movie and enjoy it, you really have to perform a magic trick yourself, turning off your brain.

Grade: C+

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