The summer of 2013 was jam-packed with sequels, franchises, and reboots, such as Iron Man 3, The Wolverine, Fast & Furious 6, Star Trek Into Darkness, Man of Steel, Despicable Me 3, The Hangover: Part III, Monsters University, and even Grown Ups 2. However, it was also a summer where audiences showed that they were willing to invest in new ideas as well. The action-adventure-heist-mystery Now You See Me became a surprise hit, and inspired the success of the 2016 sequel Now You See Me 2.
The first film was directed by Louis Leterrier, and followed the stage magicians Daniel Atlas (Jesse Eisenberg), Merritt McKinney (Woody Harrelson), Jack Wilder (Dave Franco), and Henley Reeves (Isla Fisher) as they perform Robin Hood-esque heist operations; the group is collectively known as “The Four Horseman,” and claim to work for a secret magic society called “The Eye.” They are tracked down by the FBI Agent Dylan Rhodes (Mark Ruffalo) and the “magic debunker” Thaddeus Bradley (Morgan Freeman), but the group ends up exposing and humiliating the billionaire Arthur Tresslar (Michael Caine). While Fisher did not return for the sequel, the team added a new member with Lula May (Lizzy Caplan).
It was recently announced that Now You See Me 3 is in the works from director Ruben Fleisher, with both Harrelson and Eisenberg expected to reprise their roles. While not every franchise deserves a continuation, there’s potential to expand the Now You See Me universe in exciting ways.
A Great Twist on the Heist Story
The heist movie has been around forever; from classics like The Great Train Robbery and The Italian Job to modern favorites like Inside Man and Ocean’s Eleven, seeing a group of mismatched characters with different skill sets work together to put together an impossible plan is always entertaining to watch. The Now You See Me films offer a new wrinkle on that formula; what if these thieves were also stealing from and exposing corrupt people and institutions while giving a stage performance? It adds another level of illusion to a concept that is already implausible in the first case. The iconography of the magic cards and old-fashioned gear gives the Four Horsemen an endearing retro vibe.
Leterrier had experience crafting elaborate action set pieces thanks to the Transporter films and The Incredible Hulk, and the first film finds a fun way to incorporate a level of suspense within the shows themselves. Rhodes and his team of FBI Agents have to rush to the stage in order to stop the Horsemen from robbing Tressler, but they’ve already created traps designed to stop him. It’s also fun to see the Horsemen use their magical skills when they are on the run; there’s a terrific sequence where they’re each imprisoned and find ways to break out.
When he stepped in to direct Now You See Me 2, director Jon M. Chu had already helmed several concert films and installments in the Step Up series. As a result, there’s a dance-like elegance to the way the magic is performed that makes the shows even more entertaining. It makes sense that the Horsemens’ craft itself has improved between the two films, as they are learning more about the ancient traditions of magic from “The Eye.” The individual performance style of each magician reveals something about their personality.
Excellent Cast of Characters
Unsurprisingly, a cast of actors this excellent tends to elevate the material, even though the scripts are sharply written to begin with. What’s fascinating about the first Now You See Me is that the audience is equally invested in Rhodes’ investigation into the group’s origins as they are in seeing the Horsemen escape. It allows the audience to invest in the Horsemen and their interpersonal relationships, yet care for Rhodes as he delves into their history. A romance between Rhodes and his fellow operative Alma Dray (Melanie Laurent) adds an empathetic side to him, and it all comes together beautifully when he is revealed to be the true mastermind. It makes Now You See Me worth rewatching in order to appreciate the subtle hints that Ruffalo is making about Rhodes’ real motivations ahead of the shocking final twist.
Similar to the Ocean’s Eleven franchise, it's the interactions and banter between each member of the Horsemen that makes the heists themselves entertaining. Eisenberg nails Atlas’ presumed confidence and sense of authority, particularly in the second film when he begins secretly trying to communicate with The Eye. Harrelson has a great sense of humor, and in the sequel he even gets to play two roles when McKinney’s identical twin brother shows up. Franco gives a more sensitive and vulnerable performance; he’s briefly sacrificed in the first film, and develops flirtations with Lula in the sequel. While it was disappointing to see Fisher go, Caplan’s eccentricity and charisma is an even better fit for the franchise.
Freeman gives Ruffalo a great sparring partner as the two constantly find themselves on opposite sides; while Rhodes arrests Thadeus at the end of the first film, he’s ultimately revealed to be the leader of The Eye in the sequel in another shocking twist. The sequel also features a scene-stealing supporting performance from Jay Chou as Li, a secret member of The Eye that aids the Horsemen in escaping Tresslar.
Lingering Story Questions
While the Horsemen ultimately defeat Tresslar at the end of Now You See Me 2, there are still some lingering story questions that haven’t been resolved. Most critically is the mystery surrounding Rhodes’ father, who was Tresslar’s partner in magic. While it was assumed that Rhodes’ father was dead, there have been several magicians in both films that have survived near-death experiences, so it’s certainly possible that Now You See Me 3 could hire another great actor to play the character.
The franchise has such a rich mythology that there is more than enough room for spinoffs. The Hollywood Reporter had reported that a spinoff focused on Li was in development that would feature a Chinese cast. Considering that Now You See Me 2 performed very well at the Chinese box office, this might be an interesting way to expand the series.