The “Four Horseman” return in Now You See Me 2, with Jon M. Chu in place of director Louis Leterrier and Lizzy Caplan replacing Isla Fisher as the only female member of the quartet. The original was entirely over the top, a blast of exciting absurdity that was surprisingly enjoyable and a box office smash. Leterrier is an unashamedly ridiculous director that aims squarely for eye-catching spectacle, and Chu’s direction here can’t help but feel bland in comparison. The cast are good again, with Woody Harrelson and Caplan the standouts, but this is an irrelevant plot that struggles to a frustratingly convenient finish. A movie about thieving magicians that is utterly devoid of any actual filmmaking magic.
