7/31/2019 Ocean's 12 movie review

1/2

Oceans Twelve(2004)

I thought Oceans Eleven (the 2001 version) was a nice piece of star-studded fluff, basicallylighthearted fun. I didnt really get into the movie until I had been to Vegas, however, and

now I enjoy it quite a bit. Ive also become fonder of some of the actors involved in the film(most notably Mssrs Pitt and Damon), so I looked forward to this heist film a little more

than I did the first.

Oceans Twelve is pretty much second verse, same as the first which is fine, if thats whatyoure in the market for. The same easy camaraderie, the same joking between pals, the

same clever set ups and the same bit with fooling the audience toward the middle of thefilm. It all follows the first film with some minor variations, which is exactly what most

people want and indeed expect in a sequel.

Clooney is back as the charismatic leader of the group of thieves (who balk in a very funnyscene at being referred to as Oceans Eleven) who find themselves with not one nemesis in

this film, but three; not only is Andy Garcia back as Terry Benedict (in a far smaller role),but Danny and the gang must contend with a Europol officer out to get them, one IsabelLahiri (Catherine Zeta-Jones) as well as competing with a fellow thief, the Nightfox (Vincent

Cassel, playing, as he usually does, another smarmy prick). The entire crew returns Matt

Damon, Brad Pitt, Elliot Gould, Bernie Mac, Don Cheadle, Scott Caan, etc., and theres evena sort of extended cameo for Julia Roberts.

The good times roll with the gang as we get to see how each of them is spending his part of

the fortune pilfered in the first movie as, one by one, Benedict tracks them down. Thereunion happens fairly quickly and most of the best scenes in the film involve the group allgathered together, where everyone is bitching at one another playfully, jibing one another,

and throwing out ideas. These scenes have a wonderful ad-libbed quality to them, and theycarry the first hour or so of the picture, from the moment everyone realizes theyre in

trouble to the time they pull off their first heist together. The first hour is a pure fun treat.

Its in the second hour that Oceans Twelve wanders a bit astray. Not content with anotherheist, the plot puts them in competition with uber-Europrick Nightfox, who is rich, wellconnected, an amazing thief, etc. This whole part felt a tad contrived, and while the

planning of the second heist is fun, the actual execution of it is painful. Julia Roberts comes

in for a subplot so stupid and silly it seems lifted from a Wayans Brothers spoof of thegenre, complete with ham-handed acting and a wholly unnecessary cameo by Bruce Willis(Pitt, Clooney, Roberts, Damon, Zeta-Jones you dont have enough star power already?).

The movie temporarily descends into pratfall comedy, away from the clever verbal jabs and

situational shorthand it employed so effectively until then. It sort of recovers, but not

entirely, and the movie feels a little shabby afterward (not a help that Roberts and Clooney

come off as smarmy in the final confrontation with Cassel).

The acting is by and large fine. Clooney takes a smaller role but hes still good. Pitts

character is deepened a little even though he too seems to have less screen time than thefirst one. Elliot Gould is exceedingly sharp; a lot of his one-liners are incredibly funny. Carl

Reiner isnt around enough, but when he is, hes hysterical. Damon has to shoulder a lot ofthe load and he does so very well, playing the nervous rookie perfectly. Roberts is okay, but

I so thoroughly disliked what they did with her toward the end that its hard for me tojudge. A big surprise was how sharp Catherine Zeta-Jones was, and yet how well she fit in

7/31/2019 Ocean's 12 movie review

2/2

with this established group. Isabel was a welcome addition to the movie and is give a

surprising amount of backstory and depth. She really stands out, which, even though shes

the only woman in the bulk of the film, is still a real feat with this cast.

By and large the film is light fun, easy on the brain and the eyes, and a good fun time.

Nothing especially deep, but thats never the intent. Aside from the one extended SNL-bad

gig with Roberts, I would recommend it; that bad part was enough to make me say that itsstill worth seeing, but you could wait for the DVD. I dont care to be jarred out of a film so

blatantly, especially one where a nice warm feeling of clever companionship had been socraftily composed in the first leg of the movie. But your mileage may vary. Its probably

worth at least a matinee to see some of the biggest movie stars of the day having fun withone another.

December 11, 2004