Now You See Me: Now You Don't

This film marks the third installment of the “Now You See Me” franchise, and it picks up about ten years after the last movie. We’re introduced to three new, younger-generation magicians who cross paths with the original Horsemen. The Eye seemingly gives them a job to take down an evil multimillionaire diamond tycoon. That’s the setup for this movie.

Let’s start with the acting, it’s what you’d expect for this kind of film. It’s meant to be fun, a little snarky, and a a bit elusive. The original Horsemen stay true to the characters audiences liked from the first film. The new generation magicians lean into being blasé, sarcastic, and kind of rude, which throws things off a bit. The villain (Rosamund Pike), who’s known for her strong acting, pulls off a malicious nature again in this film.

The movie deals with stealing, lying, and manipulation under the guise of magic. There’s also a subplot toward the end that involves murder and suicide. One thing I noticed is that they try to justify everything by saying it’s for the “greater good,” as if lying or manipulating is fine because an even bigger evil exists. Biblically, that doesn’t make sense. There’s no “greater evil” or excuse to do wrong for a supposedly good reason. The movie leaves the characters feeling justified, which is typical for this franchise. The story also ultimately deals with revenge, and Biblically we know that vengeance is not ours; it is the Lord’s.

If you liked the first movie, you may like this one. This installment isn’t terrible, and it keeps a lot of the familiar tropes that made the franchise fun in the first place. The generational gap and constant bickering can be off-putting, and while they do wrap it up by the end, it’s still redundant. If you just want to see where the story goes next, it may be worth a look. It’s definitely setting up to be a launching pad for a revamp.

• Wokeism: Very Heavy
• Violence: Heavy— • Various scenes of punching, kicking, choking, etc. • Violent fight with police officers • Many armed police enter with one shooting at a man who later dies with bloody wound • People fall through trapdoor • Man kicked in crotch • People’s skin sliced by flung playing cards • People shoot at others • Fire started for prison escape • Repeated mention of a suicide, and a fatal car crash caused by cut brake cables • Person shoots a family member • People locked in a box as it fills with sand, stuggling to escape • Person being led to a cell by police falls and breaks arm, snapped at the elbow with blood spurts • Person holds a gun on a man another man, they fight • Man pepper sprays guards • Speeding race car chase • Person describes woman drowning in crashed car in water
• Vulgar/Crude language: • F-word • Frickin • D*ck (2) • Sexual references • S-words (many) • Bulls**t • A** • A**hole
• Profane language: • What in G*d’s name • Oh my G*d • My G*d • G*d help you • Thank G*d • Jeez • Holy Sh*t • D*mn • H*ll

  Slang definition: Jes… or Jeez

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• Occult: Moderate
• Sex: • Adulterous relationship and illegitimate child • Heterosexual kiss • Sexual innuendo
• Nudity: Mild— Cleavage
• Drugs/Alcohol: Mild