Now You See Me: Now You Don’t (M) – 113 minutes

The original master illusionists with a conscience are back with three additional members joining the fray.

The franchise began in 2013 with Now You See Me, before Now You See Me 2 was released in 2016.

So, this is the third instalment, with Ruben Fleischer (Zombieland) in the director’s chair.

This time, the magicians target is the ruthless, money hungry head of a diamond mining business.

She is a nasty piece of work, the extent of which we learn as the movie progresses.

In the first instance, the three newcomers prove their worth with an illusion that supposedly brings back four members of the group known as the Horsemen.

I speak of J. Daniel Atlas (Jesse Eisenberg), Merritt McKinney (Woody Harrelson), Jack Wilder (Dave Franco) and Henley Reeves (Isla Fisher).

They haven’t been together for a decade and yet, here they are (or are they?) in New York City for a one-night only event.

The truth is the new trio is out to expose a cryptocurrency ring, that has fleeced people and made good money doing so.

But after succeeding, who should turn up on the doorstep of these housemates cum illusionists?

None other than cocksure J. Daniel Atlas (Jesse Eisenberg).

He and his fellow Horsemen, who have fallen out, get together with the newbies to try to bring down Veronika Vanderberg (Rosamund Pike).

That happens after each of the Horsemen receive a cryptic message from a secretive global society of magicians known as The Eye.

Veronika Vanderberg has taken over from her father as head of a global crime syndicate that bears her name.

She thrives on dealing with shady operators and inflating the price of the diamonds her company mines.

In the first instance, the Horsemen’s target is the biggest diamond in the world, known as the heart, which the Vanderberg business owns and is set for auction.

But stealing it and returning its proceeds to the community is only the start of the cut and thrust between the Horsemen and Veronika Vanderberg.

The film introduces us to the newest generation of illusionists, with a noticeable divide in approach between the established players and the latest iteration.

There is also tension in the relationship between J. Daniel Atlas and one of those newcomers, Bosco (Dominic Sessa).

In time though, even Atlas will come to recognise the innate skills of Bosco, Charlie (Justice Smith) and June (Ariana Greenblatt).

What is the basic rule of magic? You never tell the secret of a trick.

Fortunately, this franchise defies that rule. I say fortunately because I dare say we all want insight into just what goes down.

There is much sleight of hand and slick moves in Now You See Me: No You Don’t.

I particularly liked the rousing introduction to the movie, which signalled the reemergence of the Horsemen, giving us a good look at what we were in for.

In short, it whets our appetite to want more. 

A confident, cocky and argumentative Jesse Eisenberg takes centre stage for much of the movie as J. Daniel Atlas. He is solid and reliable, if not totally likeable.

I readily took to the sassy Ariana Greenblatt as slick operator June.

So, too, Justice Smith as behind the scenes mover and shaker Charlie, who has an increasingly important role to play as the film develops.

Rosamund Pike makes an impressive and elegant villain, maintaining a credible South African accent throughout.

Now You See Me: No You Don’t is a good looker too, with exotic and intriguing locales, including Abu Dhabi, at the ready.

As pure escapist entertainment, it hits the mark.

Rated M, it scores a 7½ out of 10.