A new ‘Now You See Me’ isn’t magical, but its silliness will keep you distracted

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As a critic, I’m starting to feel a little old. The fact that we’re getting another “Now You See Me” movie really hits home how quickly time is flying. The last time we saw those illusionist Robin Hoods, the Horsemen, it was back in 2016 – during the Obama years! It makes you wonder where the time went, doesn’t it? It feels like just yesterday that first movie was a hit in 2013, and now here we are, firmly in a world obsessed with revisiting its own recent past.

Years ago, the Four Horsemen – a group of illusionists portrayed by Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Dave Franco, and either Isla Fisher or Lizzy Caplan – used their skills to do good. They focused on things like giving back to the community and stopping powerful, corrupt technology leaders.

Things are really bad, so let’s try something radical – it can’t make things worse, and honestly, it feels like we have no other options. We’re powerless to stop billionaires from harming the environment and developing risky technologies.

Ruben Fleischer now directs the latest installment in the series, taking over from previous directors Jon M. Chu and Louis Leterrier. The screenplay is by Seth Grahame-Smith, Michael Lesslie, and Rhett Reese. After nine years, this new film, effectively a reboot, focuses on a new group of magicians inspired by the original Four Horsemen.

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For decades, the Academy of Magical Arts has owned and developed the Hollywood mansion into a leading performance space for magic.

A get-together at a warehouse in Bushwick isn’t what it seems. A trio of young, hopeful magicians – June, Charlie, and Bosco – are putting on a show, imitating the famous Horsemen and using their skills to steal from wealthy, dishonest cryptocurrency investors and give the money to others their age who are struggling. They’re content with their low-budget operation, running it out of a loft in a former bagel factory, until a real Horseman, J. Daniel Atlas, arrives with a mysterious invitation – a tarot card – from a powerful figure known only as the Eye.

It turns out the Horsemen have a much larger problem on their hands: Veronika Vanderberg (played with wit by Rosamund Pike), a wealthy South African diamond heiress. She possesses a famous diamond called the Heart Diamond and has a complicated family past. Their mission to steal the Heart will lead them on a chase from Belgium to the French countryside and finally to Abu Dhabi. Along the way, they’ll rely on their magic to escape trouble, outsmart Veronika, and ultimately help the South African communities harmed by diamond mining. This international adventure will also reunite past and present Horsemen, both allies and enemies, highlighting that friendship is more valuable than even the most dazzling diamonds.

I absolutely love the “Now You See Me” films – they’re just pure, joyful fun, even if they are a bit ridiculous! What I find so interesting is that despite all the illusions, it’s not really about magic at all. It’s more about incredibly clever puzzles, disguises, and those amazing card tricks – like elaborate escape rooms brought to life. It always makes me wonder if anything is actually magical! They create these fantastic illusions, and Henley is a true escape artist, but so often, the Horsemen are just pulling off elaborate tricks and then explaining how they did it, leading to someone getting arrested. Is that really magic? It feels more like incredible deception and showmanship on a global scale – it’s closer to “Mission: Impossible” than a David Copperfield performance. Imagine if Ethan Hunt took to the stage, revealed all his secrets to a cheering audience, and then gave everyone a gift, Oprah-style – that’s the vibe!

It’s okay if the movie relies on magical explanations. Despite a lot of characters simply explaining the story to each other – which happens far too often – the film moves quickly, and the new characters are likable. Sessa is a standout, with a playful personality that nicely complements Jesse Eisenberg’s character’s intelligence.

Fleischer’s visual style is flashy and a little over-the-top, and it fits the movie perfectly – it’s fitting for a film about magicians to look impressive but also a bit fake. The first action scene is confusing, but the action improves as the film goes on. What really stands out is that Fleischer understands the playful, self-aware nature of magic. It’s intentionally over-the-top and silly, making the movie surprisingly enjoyable, but it’s also clever about it. “Now You See Me: Now You Don’t” is light, harmless fun – a perfect way to escape from reality for a little while, so why not enjoy it?

Katie Walsh is a Tribune News Service film critic.

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2025-11-14 22:01