Back in 2013, a starry-stacked heist movie involving magicians appeared without much fanfare, even though it included big names like Michael Caine. Then the completely forgettable sequel came out, with Daniel Radcliffe as the villain, and no one even remembers it being released. So it’s astounding to see that a third film has escaped and this time, it’s more of the same: a heist movie that uses magic as its central ploy, with no matter how impressive the set pieces, they somehow fail to impress.

Diamond merchant Veronika Vanderberg has hidden ties to arms dealers, so when she decides to sell her impressive heart diamond to the highest bidder, the sale will fund far more dangerous activities. Three young magicians are thrown into stopping her when the famous Four Horsemen are given the job of stopping her.

Magic is something that has always been tricky (sorry about the pun) to get right on film, and no matter how hard filmmakers try, it’s a form of entertainment that impresses more in person than on screen. Mainly because we are so used to effects being put into play that you cannot believe what is an actual trick and what isn’t. This has been the major issue with the previous films. While the set pieces try to look as jaw-dropping as possible, they fail to ignite because you know that the effects teams are doing their own form of magic.

How can a film that attempts to use skills men and women all over the world hone in on look spectacular enough for fans to want more? The answer is: they cannot. No matter how big the set pieces are, they just make you shrug. In that case, you make the plot as enjoyable as possible. Sadly, there is a line between clever and ludicrous, and this film crosses it so much that it ends up looking like a more complicated version of Scooby-Doo, but without the masked janitor.

Nothing seems to click in this new adventure, including bringing back surprise appearances of cast members from movies past, and injecting fresh blood with the three wannabe Horsemen. The script wanders from one scene to another, with the most dire moments coming when the character-heavy group splits up in a house full of hidden traps, and the dialogue just seems forced and awkward.

Then it’s up to the cast to do their best. Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Dave Franco and original Horsemen member Isla Fisher return, and even their relationship just doesn’t gel. Only laid-back Harrelson does the film any justice, as he is the only one who sounds like he’s not even trying. Morgan Freeman appears briefly, and the look of doing this for the money is glinting in his eye. The three fresh-faced magicians try to bring energy to the film, but they, too, are dragged down by a dire script.

The real star of the film is Rosamund Pike as the South African Veronika. Her accent is all over the place, but she has the good sense of playing it the way the best screen villains do: chew up the scenery. She has decided to have fun, and that comes across.

If you can look past the terrible script and cardboard performances, Now You See Me: Now You Don’t is slight entertainment that passes the time OK, but don’t expect anything really spectacular. If you want real tricks and treats, go watch a close-up magician. They will blow your mind.

2 out of 5

Director: Ruben Fleischer

Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher, Dave Franco, Rosamund Pike, Morgan Freeman, Justice Smith, Dominic Sessa, Ariana Greenblatt, Lizzy Caplan, Mark Ruffalo

Written by: Seth Grahame-Smith, Michael Lesslie, Rhett Reese, Paul Wermic, (story) Eric Warren Singer, (based on the characters created) Boaz Yakin and Edward Ricourt

Running Time: 113 mins

Cert: 12A

Release date: 13th November 2025