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Ocean's Thirteen

Yeah ok, we get the joke

By Geoff Berkshire, Metromix

June 8, 2007

Critic's Rating:

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"Ocean's Eleven" wasn't exactly a movie that demanded two sequels but, over $800 million in worldwide box office later, here comes "Ocean's Thirteen." The easy-going charm of an ensemble cast led by George Clooney, Brad Pitt and Matt Damon, and the stylishly assured direction of Oscar winner Steven Soderbergh still prove appealing, but revisiting the same territory a third time brings the unavoidable feeling that enough is enough.

Unlike "Ocean's Twelve," which made time for a fresh relationship between Pitt and Catherine Zeta-Jones and an entire in-joke of a subplot involving how much the character played by Julia Roberts resembled the real Julia Roberts, "Ocean's Thirteen" strictly focuses on the Ocean gang's latest caper. Roberts and Zeta-Jones are nowhere to be found (taking all pretense of romance with them) but all eleven of the criminals return, as do supporting characters played by Andy Garcia, Eddie Izzard and Vincent Cassel.

This time out the target is another wealthy casino owner, Willy Bank (Al Pacino), who is about to open a new hotel with a high-tech security system that's just asking to be outfoxed and gobs of money ready for the taking. The predictably convoluted plot has no purpose other than delivering enough twists and turns to demonstrate how effortlessly cool Ocean and the crew are. And at some point nearly every one of the guys dons a goofy disguise, fake accent optional.

It's light and it's fun and it's pointless to complain when the talented cast makes everything look so easy, but it's about time for everyone involved to put their considerable skills to use on material that doesn't feel so warmed over.

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