Review: Now You See Me 2

The Magic is Back

By Chris Sabga

Release Date: June 10, 2016 – U.S.

Rating: PG-13

Genre: Action, Comedy, Thriller

Running Time: 129 minutes

Director: Jon M. Chu

Writers: Ed Solomon, Pete Chiarelli, 

Boaz Yakin, Edward Ricourt

Cast: Jesse Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo, 

Woody Harrelson, Dave Franco, 

Daniel Radcliffe, Lizzy Caplan, 

Jay Chou, Sanaa Lathan, 

Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, 

David Warshofsky, Tsai Chin  

"Always be the smartest guy in the room."

That was "the first rule of magic" according to Jesse Eisenberg's steadfastly self-assured character in 2013's "Now You See Me." In that movie, four magicians robbed a bank in Paris – while they were in Vegas. This time, the tables are turned on them: they escape through a drain pipe in the U.S. – and end up in Macau, China.

Three of the original Four Horsemen are back for magic trick #2. They are J. Daniel Atlas (Eisenberg), Merritt McKinney (Woody Harrelson), and Jack Wilder (Dave Franco). Gone is Henley Reeves (Isla Fisher), who "got tired of waiting." Her replacement is the young and spirited Lula (played by the equally young and spirited Lizzy Caplan). As great as Fisher is, I think I prefer the new girl. Out of all of them, she may be "the smartest guy in the room" this time.

Naturally, FBI agent Dylan Rhodes (Mark Ruffalo) is still hot on the trail of the Horsemen – or at least that's the line he's feeding his partners in the Bureau, newcomer Natalie Austin (Sanaa Lathan) and prickly veteran Cowan (David Warshofsky, who was also in the previous film).

If Eisenberg was arguably the "star" the first time around, his charisma and charm are dialed down considerably for the sequel and he takes somewhat of a supporting role and backseat to Ruffalo – although both movies are very much ensemble pieces. I am a bit disappointed that Eisenberg has almost been shuffled off to the side – he was such a dynamic and magnetic presence in the first film – but Ruffalo is a superb actor in his own right.

Neither of them are "the smartest guy in the room" anymore – or are they? As with the first, there are many twists and turns, but the characters played by Eisenberg and Ruffalo are definitely vulnerable and on the run for much of the movie. Arthur Tressler (Morgan Freeman) and Thaddeus Bradley (Michael Caine) – both of whom are returning from the original as well – may or may not have something to do with that.

It looks like The Horsemen have finally met their match when they come face-to-face with tech whiz Walter Mabry (Daniel Radcliffe, in a nice piece of casting – he's best known, of course, for portraying the most famous magician of the modern era, Harry Potter). He wants them steal a chip that will allow him to hack into any computer in the world and decrypt anything it comes into contact with. Hermoine would not approve.

Harrelson has double the screen-time in this sequel – literally. He also plays his long lost twin brother in a situation that gave me traumatic flashbacks to Jack Palance in "City Slickers 2: The Legend of Curly's Gold." But even though the twin character didn't entirely work for me, it was fun to see Woody clowning around again after taking on mostly dramatic roles over the past few years.

"Now You See Me 2" does attempt to explain some of its tricks, but they're mostly ridiculous and implausible – cinematic sleight of hand instead of actual magic. There is one scene with a playing card that defies every rule of logic and even gravity. If they can all throw a tiny card around with such precision, then they missed their true calling – they should be Major League Baseball players instead of magicians. The first movie likely had some of the same issues, but everything seems more excessive this time.

Still, such criticisms are probably missing the point. Did I have fun while I was watching? Absolutely. I was smiling for most of the movie.

There is one small scene in the final few minutes that I loved. It's no more than a tiny exchange between Michael Caine and Daniel Radcliffe, but they make those few seconds shine. Caine is such a delicious cad and Radcliffe has fantastic facial expressions.

The sequel isn't quite as good – are they ever? – and neither is its ending. Silver Screen Friend thought of a much cooler finale, which would have involved the Ruffalo character's father. But "Now You See Me 2" is still a worthy second (magical) act.

• My review of the first Now You See Me

Review: Olympus Has Fallen

Mr. Butler Goes to Washington

By Chris Sabga

Release Date: March 23, 2013 – U.S.

Rating: R

Genre: Action, Thriller

Running Time: 120 minutes

Director: Antoine Fuqua

Writers: Creighton Rothenberger, Katrin Benedikt

Cast: Gerard Butler, Aaron Eckhart, Morgan Freeman, 

Angela Bassett, Robert Forster, Cole Hauser, 

Finley Jacobsen, Ashley Judd, Melissa Leo, 

Dylan McDermott, Radha Mitchell, Rick Yune

"Olympus Has Fallen" presents a nightmarish scenario for the United States: the White House has been overtaken by North Korean terrorists, the President and Vice President are being held hostage (along with members of their cabinet), the President's young son is the next target, and a series of nuclear launch codes are in danger of falling into the wrong hands.

Of course, as always, it's up to one man to save the day: Mike Banning (Gerard Butler), a former Secret Service agent who is ex-Special Forces and has a Ph.D. in kicking ass. Luckily for him, the action is nonstop! This is exactly the kind of role Butler excels in. 

Banning is close friends with the President of the United States, Benjamin Asher (Aaron Eckhart). Is Asher a Republican or Democrat? I'm sure opponents of both parties will come up with negative reasons to pinpoint why he's one or the other. In a movie like this, it hardly matters.

If you saw Morgan Freeman on the poster and thought he was playing the President, well, me too. Instead, he's the Speaker of the House, Allan Trumbull. Freeman has the most trusted and authoritative voice in Hollywood, and it would be such a shame for him not to play to those strengths. Then again, whenever something happens to the President and Vice President... But I'll leave you, dear reader, to educate yourself on the White House's line of succession.

Aaron Eckhart actually dials down his considerable charisma to portray a less showy, no frills President. That, I suppose, is an easy way to convey to the audience that the Commander-in-Chief is a genuinely good person and not just another politics-as-usual talking head. He's a man of conviction who is fiercely devoted to his family. He loves his wife, Margaret (Ashley Judd), and son, Connor (Finley Jacobsen). I wish the part had called for Eckhart to be a bit more bombastic, but I understand the reasons for making this President fairly down-to-earth and ordinary.

There are some nice scenes involving Butler's character and the First Family that establish their close-knit relationship and deep, mutual love and respect for one another. He and the President are sparring partners who crack jokes while cracking knuckles in a boxing ring, and there's a strong bond between Butler and the President's son, who appears to be about 10 or 11. A little boy on the loose in the White House while it's under attack: that's certainly a cause for concern – and quite a bargaining chip for the bad guys if they find him first.

The North Korean terrorist in charge of the takeover operation is Kang (Rick Yune), and he means business!

Morgan Freeman does a superb job of playing the third wheel who wears the weight of the world on his weary face. He's completely in over his head – suddenly thrust into a high-pressure position he's ill-prepared for – but he has no choice but to press on and persevere against all odds.

There's another agent, Forbes (Dylan McDermott), who stays in the background assisting Butler's Banning. It might seem strange that such a magnetic performer would be cast in a seemingly disposable subservient role, but you don't need to be Sherlock Holmes to piece this one together.

Secret Service Director Lynn Jacobs (Angela Bassett) maintains a friendship with Banning. Bassett remains a dominant screen presence. 

Secretary of Defense Ruth McMillan (Melissa Leo) is in the trenches with the President. No matter how big or small the part is, Leo always goes out of her way to look and sound different for every role she takes. She's never afraid to immerse herself in a character, even if it means appearing unattractive or unappealing. I'll confess that I didn't even recognize her until the credits rolled and her name came up.

Radha Mitchell, Cole Hauser, and Robert Forster round out the cast: Mitchell plays Banning's wife, Leah, who worries and wants to spend more time with her husband; Hauser is Roma, another agent; and Robert Forster's General Edward Clegg lends advice and assistance to Freeman's character.

"Olympus Has Fallen" is the kind of action movie Hollywood used to make so well but we rarely see anymore. It's a supremely satisfying smorgasbord of bloodshed, violence, and explosions. The bullets fly and the body-count is high.

Review: Now You See Me

Summer Movie Magic

By Chris Sabga

Release Date: May 31, 2013 – U.S.

Rating: PG-13

Genre: Crime, Thriller

Running Time: 115 minutes

Director: Louis Leterrier       

Writers: Ed Solomon, Boaz Yakin, 

Edward Ricourt           

Cast:  Jesse Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo, 

Woody Harrelson, Mélanie Laurent, 

Isla Fisher, Dave Franco, Michael Caine, 

Morgan Freeman

"Now You See Me" is the perfect summer "popcorn" flick: light, breezy, and entertaining – and it doesn't waste any time! After briefly introducing each major player, it gets right into the action.

The four magicians at the heart of the film are trickster J. Daniel Atlas (Jesse Eisenberg), escapist Henley Reeves (Isla Fisher), mentalist Merritt McKinney (Woody Harrelson), and young lockpick expert Jack Wilder (Dave Franco).

They each receive a card inviting them to a specified location. Daniel and Henley already know each other; the others are strangers. Before long, they are an official group: The Four Horsemen (not to be confused with this or them). Why have they all been brought together, and by whom?

Their first magic trick is to rob a bank in Paris – while they're in Vegas.

This criminal act – or is it? – earns them the immediate attention of the authorities. They're quickly captured and interrogated by an overwhelmed FBI agent, Dylan Rhodes (Mark Ruffalo), and his assistant from Interpol, Alma Dray (a super-cute Mélanie Laurent).

"The first rule of magic," Daniel announces before befuddling them with trickery: "Always be the smartest guy in the room!"

As it turns out, the FBI and Interpol aren't the only ones after The Horsemen. Thaddeus Bradley (Morgan Freeman), a former magician who now debunks the tricks of the trade, is hot on their trail as well. But Daniel and his crew have a powerful ally: Financing them is insurance tycoon Arthur Tressler (Michael Caine).

The rest of the movie is composed of dazzling tricks and fast-paced chase sequences – both, sometimes, in the same moment.

"Now You See Me" is pure Hollywood summer escapism at its best: fast, furious, and fun! If you stop to think about what's happening, there are bound to be a few holes in logic you could poke through with a magic wand. Luckily, the action moves far too quickly to really allow any time for that – at least while you're watching. The entire script is much like a great magic show: one trick after another.