Now You See Me - C+

Rated PG-13, 116 minutes

Fun, over-the-top "Now You See Me" is full of tricks, little else

Jesse Eisenberg

The new heist film "Now You See Me" is full of elaborate tricks, though in fact its audience may be the one who feels fooled into thinking it's a truly great film. An FBI agent (Mark Ruffalo) and an Interpol detective (Melanie Laurent) follow a team of high profile illusionists (Jesse Eisenberg, Isla Fisher, Woody Harrelson and Dave Franco) whose magic tricks include bank heists in front of live audiences who are then rewarded with the money. A former magician and debunker (Morgan Freeman) also follows the team with ulterior motives, though they all soon realize the situation is bigger than all of them. Louis Leterrier ("Clash of the Titans") directs a slick caper film peppered with some energetically entertaining moments, though when the action slows down a bit you'll realize how thin the plotting and characters really are. Moreover, it's all so preposterously and elaborately unveiled that it becomes rather pointless, except to provide some escapism for its audience, which it does very well. There are too many characters whose backstories fade into the magician's hat quicker than you can say "shazam," with the biggest illusion is the take-the-money-and-run performances from Oscar-winners Freeman and a misused Michael Caine. Eisenberg, Fisher, Harrelson, Franco and Laurent are all serviceable, though the film is anchored by an exceedingly hammy Ruffalo, and once the twisty finale unfolds you'll end up rolling your eyes much more than saying "wow." "Now You See Me" provides some forgettable, fast-paced entertainment, but much like those magic tricks, it leaves you with nothing.

Wes's Grade: C+