Now You See Me (DQ)

Stars: Jesse Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo, Woody Harrelson, Melanie Laurent, Isla Fisher, Dave Franco, Common, Jose Garcia, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, Michael J Kelly, David Warshofsky

Director: Louis Leterrier

A combination of whodunit and how-did-they-do-that, this entertaining romp centres on a group of former street magicians, now assembled into a red-hot troupe, The Four Horsemen, who make their audiences gasp in astonishment - and rob banks at the same time. Or so it seems.

The troupe (Eisenberg, Harrelson, Fisher and Franco - brother of James) are bankrolled by businessman Michael Caine, that is, until they relieve him of all his money. And they're pursued by increasingly frustrated cop Mark Ruffalo, who always seems to be two steps behind them. Then there's ex-illusionist Morgan Freeman, who seems to be pursuing his own agenda (or that of a shadowy figure in the background), until he's seconded by Caine to take revenge on the Horsemen.

Throw in Mélanie Laurent as an Interpol agent - or is she? - and add a little bit of magic and some furious chases. Characterisation? Not much. Nothing in Leterrier's past record suggests he's interested in this side of things, but the film does take the notion of 'all is not what it seems' to new levels, and it's highly unlikely you'll guess the final twist.

Fast-paced in both action and dialogue, this is a glitterball of a film, whose surface shimmer only serves to pull the wool over our eyes at appropriate moments.

David Quinlan

USA 2013. UK Distributor: Entertainment One. Colour by deluxe.
115 minutes. Widescreen. UK certificate: 12A.

Guidance ratings (out of 3): Sex/nudity 0, Violence/Horror 0, Drugs 0, Swearing 0.

Review date: 06 Jul 2013