In the world of big-budget, crowd-pleaser films, their success tends to rest not on the scale of the special effects, but on the the quality dialogue and the acting.
Which is why Now You See Me, a heist caper with street magic, more how-dunnit than who-dunnit, offers its audience such a bloody good time.
Not since Die Hard and Ocean's 11 have action sequences and gang-crime been so much fun.
The cast, an unexpected medley of Jesse Eisenberg, Isla Fisher, Marc Ruffalo, Woody Harrelson, Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine and the Most Beautiful Living Woman Ever, Melanie Laurent, are having a great time.
The dialogue is sprightly. The plot is twisty. The tricks are astounding. The conclusion amusing.
Yes, it is implausible in a hundred different ways. And yes, it comes with a side-order of cheese. But it's clever, entertaining and original and a great way to spend 2 hours of your life.
