Actors: Morgan Freeman, Jesse Eisenberg, Daniel Radcliffe, Woody Harrelson, Mark Ruffalo
Directors: Jon M. Chu
Rated: PG-13
Studio: Lionsgate
Release Date: September 6, 2016
Run Time: 129 minutes
Film: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3 out of 5 stars
“Now You See Me” was a good film…but it was not a film that was asking for sequel in any way. The only thing that the unnecessary sequel does is enlarge its cast. This time only with Jesse Eisenberg (The Social Network), Mark Ruffalo (The Avengers), Woody Harrelson (The Hunger Games franchise), Dave Franco (Nerve), Michael Caine (The Dark Knight) and Morgan Freeman (The Shawshank Redemption). We get Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter franchise), Lizzy Caplan (Cloverfield) and Jay Chou (The Green Hornet) added to the magic show. Unfortunately it doesn’t have much magic up it sleeves like the first film.
Official Premise: The Four Horsemen (Eisenberg, Harrelson, Franco, Caplan) return for a second mind-bending adventure, elevating the limits of stage illusion to new heights and taking them around the globe. One year after outwitting the FBI and winning the public’s adulation with their Robin Hood-style magic spectacles, the illusionists resurface for a comeback performance in hopes of exposing the unethical practices of a tech magnate. The man behind their vanishing act is none other than Walter Mabry (Radcliffe), a tech prodigy who threatens the Horsemen into pulling off their most impossible heist yet. Their only hope is to perform one last unprecedented stunt to clear their names and reveal the mastermind behind it all.
The Blu-ray Combo Pack comes with a DVD anda also a Digital HD of the film. The 1080p transfer showcases the razzle dazzle of Las Vegas very well in its stylized feel. The Dolby Atmos track works great with the scale of the film and the presentation definitely delivers the magic unlike the film itself. In terms of special features, there is an audio commentary with the director as well as three behind-the-scenes featurettes, which dive into the making of the film and how the cast/crew learned the film’s magic tricks.