Outline: Willy Banks (Al Pacino) double crosses his latest casino partner Reuben Tishkoff (Elliott Gould), landing Reuben in the hospital. When Will refuses a Billy Martin from Danny (George Clooney), the gang (Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Eddie Jemison, Don Cheadle, Shaobo in, Casey Affleck, Scott Caan, Bernie Mac, and Carl Reiner) plan to take down Banks' casino during the soft open as payback, with a little help from Terry Benedict (Andy Garcia) and Roman Nagel (Eddie Izzard).Oh, how delightful. The series goes back to its roots: Las Vegas and fun. Yup, it's fun again, kids. Might as well enjoy it.
Director and cinematographer Steven Soderbergh has it back on the rails, and it rolls along quickly and smoothly. Writing team Brian Koppelman and David Levien keep the plot streamlined, allowing more room for the loving character bits that made the first installment such a thrill to watch. There are plenty of giggle-worthy in- and out of character jabs.
Also, much to my delectation, Affleck gets his own subplot, and it's both relevant and hilarious. As much as the big stars are important, and as much as convivial amusements as Cloons, Pitt, Damon, Garcia, etc. bring to the screen, these movies are only as good as their supporting players. If Caan and Affleck, despite looking nothing alike, weren't believable antagonistic sibs, the movie would grind to a halt when they hit the screen. If Qin, with his lovely head of hair, wasn't such a good sport, the rest wouldn't matter.
Pacino tones it down enough to let his enjoyment in this boys club show, and the crazy hot Ellen Barkin adds the needed estrogen boost.
So much of the first picture comes full circle this time around that it's easy to forget the failings of the second. In fact, why don't we? Let's just sit back and enjoy. B+
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