Now you see me, now you don’t” works, but it doesn’t reach the magic of its predecessors

The best franchises are the ones that manage to survive a mistake. If a sequel falls short of what its predecessors were, there must still be something to keep you coming back, again and again. It’s what we feel with The Illusionists 3: Now you see me, now you don’tthe third film in the magical franchise starring Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher and Dave Franco. In this third movie you have everything you expect of the franchise, but it doesn’t dazzle like the other two. It would seem that it is missing something, a little more weight in character, but anyway there is here and there new things that, although they are not so spectacular, make us want to see it if there is a fourth movie.

The return of the illusionists

Directed by Ruben Fleischer (who appears to already be working on a fourth film), The Illusionists 3: Now you see me, now you don’t The story picks up a few years after what happened in the previous one. The legendary Four Horsemen haven’t appeared in public for a long time, but when a new group of magicians begins to sneak into their territory, the two groups are forced to pull a trick bigger than any other. They are going to steal the largest diamond in the world, from an evil woman who launders money, played by Rosamund Pike.

In the new group are Justice Smith (I Saw the TV Glow), Ariana Greenblatt (Barbie) y Dominic Sessa (The Holdovers), and this is his movie. It’s great to see Eisenberg, Harrelson, Fisher and Franco again, but it’s the new, younger generation of magicians that takes the lead this time. Its characters and their stories and points of view make the film shed light on the entire concept of magic with some nostalgia and reverence. They clash with the original horsemen in various ways, and there are magical interludes and funny moments.

The faults we found

The problem is that as the film progresses there are too many characters to be able to be fair to all of them. They form pairs, and more people join in, and in the end you feel that many of the characters have not been given the opportunity to fully develop, as if they were there to perform more than anything else.

As the film’s twists and turns add up, that many characters make the impossible stunts we came to see feel more impossible. These movies are all about deception and revelation and in Now you see me: not nowthere is a lot of that. But a lot of times you think, “What are the other five characters doing right now?” Sometimes things satisfy you, but other times they don’t. As a result, the magic fades or is somewhat diluted.

The good thing is that the new cast is brilliant. Smith, the magic nerd, is a fan of horsemen. Greenblatt has that self-confidence that is so cool and it shows here. Sessa, the group’s reticent leader, reappears as leader. And the three newcomers help the original cast try to take their characters in new directions, narratively and emotionally alike. It doesn’t always work well, but at least it helps fill the time.

Worth seeing

The script, credited by four writers, strives to surprise us just as the franchise promises, and succeeds almost every time. There are moments that seem telegraphic, and others are perfect. But some leave us confused even though they are explained later. As for Fleisher’s direction, he manages to balance everything, but since there are so many characters and locations, the final result lacks that charm that Jon M. Chu gave to the previous film.

Well, let’s say that The Illusionists 3: Now you see me: not now It definitely has some of the magic that we love so much about this franchise, although not enough to live up to the previous ones. If you liked the others, these characters and this world, you will not leave disappointed. They are films that have to do with joy, and what is entertaining is seeing their magic. Perhaps, of the entire franchise, this is the least brilliant, but beyond all, when the horsemen return in a fourth film, we will surely be there to see it.

The Illusionists 3: Now you see me, now you don’t premieres on November 14.

This article has been translated from Gizmodo US by Romina Fabbretti. Here you can find the original version.