Unlike many friends and colleagues, I wasn’t a fan of the first “Now You See Me” movie, released back in 2013. While I enjoyed the cast and the premise, I didn’t care much for all the twists and turns that director Louis Leterrier threw at us. That being said, I didn’t mind this sequel so much. For one thing, I knew what I was in for: more magic tricks and a story that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Better yet, the four horsemen, once again played by Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Dave Franco and Mark Ruffalo are pitted against a tech genius (played by Daniel Radcliffe) who challenges them to pull off one hell of a heist. That’s cue for director Jon M. Chu to stage as many magic tricks as possible. Does it always pay off? No. Is the plot still needlessly overlong and confusing at times? You bet. But it’s certainly lively and has clever moments that involve the horsemen’s keen powers of observation, and their ability to think their way out of difficult situations. So if, like me, you know what you’re getting into-or, unlike me, enjoyed the first Horsemen outing, I doubt you’ll be bored or dissatisfied.

Rating: 2.5/4