The famous magicians known as The Horsemen are reunited by the mysterious Eye for another altruistic heist. This time they will be taking down  a diamond mine heiress and criminal Veronika Vanderberg (Rosamund Pike). 

The Now You See Me films have always relied on fast talking exposition explaining highly improbable tricks that would take either actual magic or the sort of insane amount of planning and precision that the characters simply do not have. But the point really is to ignore the improbable and just go with the fun of the invention on show. This third film is no exception and has added in even more characters to perform those improbable tricks and explain them. 

The returning horseman from both the previous films are Atlas (Jesse Eisenberg), Merritt (Woody Harrelson) and Jack (Dave Franco). Whilst Henley (Isla Fisher) who skipped the second movie is also back with an explanation for her previous absence. Alongside them though are a bunch of younger newcomers, all of course superb magician’s. Charlie (Justice Smith) is the behind the scenes specialist trick-maker, June (Arianna Greenblatt) is a lock picker extraordinaire and Bosco (Dominic Sessa) is their arrogant leader who gives Atlas’s ego a run for its money. And on top of that you get the likes of Morgan Freeman making a small appearance as well. The result is that the film does suffer from the sort of lulls character heavy franchise sequels can suffer from. Requiring the film to pair characters off and try and spark interesting relationships. Some work and some do not. It also suffers from the fact that as the third film in the series doing exactly the same schtick it can also be slightly tiresome. 

It is still fun though as long as you watch it in the spirit of what it is trying to be. Character development and cohesion may not be there. But this is about just how inventive they can be with their crazy illusions and tricks whilst taking down a pantomime villain. This time Michael Caine and Daniel Radcliffe are replaced by Rosamund Pike who delivers a deliciously evil and self assured South African diamond billionaire. Perhaps the least improbable part of the entire film. 

One specific scene in a French chateau where our magicians all try to outperform each other with a trick sums the film up perfectly. Show over substance, cheese rather than class but still a good laugh. 

If you are a fan of the series then this is more of the same with more characters. If on the other hand you are looking for something to make sense then steer well clear.