‘Ocean’s Twelve’ Is Still Pulling In The Laughs, And The $$$

When it comes to sequels, it has often been my experience that you’re better off not watching the original film right before you see the new installment. That way, you won’t be doubly disappointed when the new movie not only fails to live up to its hype, but also ends up marring your warm memories of the first picture.

That being said, I think most moviegoers planning to see Ocean’s Twelve, the hit sequel that has earned over $115 million at the box office, which only last weekend – after more than six weeks in wide release – was bumped off the country’s top ten list of grossing films currently playing, would be well served to make a return visit to 2001’s Ocean’s Eleven, a breezy remake of the 1960 Rat Pack original, that teamed big-screen superstars George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts, Matt Damon, Don Cheadle, Carl Reiner, and more.

A reminder of how director Steven Soderbergh used their electric charm and high-wattage star power to make his snappy, fun heist flick will prepare you for the enjoyable lark of a trip that is Ocean’s Twelve. However, if you forget that Soderbergh and company took us on such an amusing ride, you might find yourself disappointed in the lack of gravity in this journey.

In the first film, debonair ex-con Danny Ocean (Clooney) masterminded one last, grand theft: the looting of over $150 million from a vault underneath three Las Vegas casinos. To pull off the caper, Ocean turned to his trusted friend and right-hand man, Dusty Ryan (Pitt) and together the two recruited a motley gang of specialists (a/k/a Ocean’s 11) to do the improbable and swipe millions in cash from under the nose of ruthless casino owner Terry Benedict (Andy Garcia), who also happened to be dating Ocean’s ex-wife, Terry (Roberts).

Now, three years later, the gang is reassembled because someone has tipped off Benedict to their involvement and now he wants his money back... with interest. Thus, Ocean and the gang have two weeks to try to come up with $190 million or else face the wrath of the vindictive Benedict.

Ocean’s Twelve, which gleefully bounces around a variety of swank European locales, boasts an even lighter air than the first film. The characters continue the good-natured teasing between them that was a trademark of the first outing, there are numerous plot twists, and there’s an extended sequence involving Roberts that will either make you laugh hysterically, or roll your eyes in disbelief at how close to sheer camp Soderbergh and crew have taken this light caper romp.

Most notable among the many cast members joining Clooney and crew on this go-round is another Soderbergh veteran, Catherine Zeta-Jones, who plays a cool Europol agent with ties to Pitt’s Ryan, and French star Vincent Cassel, who does a nice job as a rival thief named “Night Fox.”

Soderbergh also dials up several special cameos (none of which I’ll spoil here) and gets some real nice mileage out of the recurring gag of using Damon’s Linus character as the perpetual rookie. It’s especially funny and clever because it comes on the heels of Damon’s successful return last year as super-tough spy Jason Bourne in Bourne Supremacy. To see him bashfully defer to the more experienced con men of Clooney’s Ocean and Pitt’s Ryan and successfully play the role of insecure sidekick is a credit to the ability (and agreeable nature) of bonafide star Damon.

Ocean’s Twelve, a relatively tame PG-13 (for some occasionally colorful language), is not the same pleasurable experience as its predecessor, but is certainly an entertaining flick that will wash over you without much fuss and, if you’re in the right, light spirit, provide a fun time at the movies.