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| Photo: Warner Bros. |
“Ocean’s 8” has a powerhouse of the top box office females move stars in Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett and Anne Hathaway and the biggest music superstar in Rihanna but is it as good as the previous Ocean movies that came before it? That’s not really the question that should be asked but, does it need to be? Not really.
In this spinoff of the franchise, we follow Debbie Ocean (Sandra Bullock) who is Danny Ocean’s (George Clooney) from the “Ocean’s 11” franchise sister. There are a few references to Danny about their family profession, crime and cons. During several points in the movie, Debbie visits Danny’s grave where we learn that he is dead. With a martini in hand, Debbie sits in front of Danny’s crypt. “You better be in there,” she says. “You better NOT be in there” is what the audience will think. The movie didn’t need all of the Ocean’s references and should have just stood on its own.
After spending five years in prison, Debbie returns to the life to perform one more job, the biggest jewel heist in history… a theft from Cartier during the Met Gala. Debbie has been planning the elaborate heist from prison and recruits a team of her old buddies, Lou (Cate Blanchett) and Tammy (Sarah Paulson) and new recruits Amita (Mindy Kaling), Nine Ball (Rihanna), Constance (Awkwafina), and Rose Weil (Helena Bonham-Carter). Rose designs a dress for movie star Daphne Kluger (Anne Hathaway) who is attending the ball and heads to Cartier for the perfect accessory, a multi-carat diamond necklace. Getting the piece on Daphne’s neck and later off her neck and out of the museum proves no small feat.
Claude (Richard Armitage), Debbie’s ex and the reason Debbie was sent to prison is an unknowing mark in all of this in a backstory that is sometimes confusing.
The GOOD: The ladies each get their moment to shine and their skill set comes through, especially Nine Ball, Constance and Amita. The fashion and the jewels are gorgeous. Mindy Kaling as the jewelry maker was great. The costumes were amazing and almost worth the price of admission for fashionistas.
James Corden as the insurance agent investigating the theft is a delight. His interview scenes with Daphne are one of the movie’s bright spots.
THE BAD (Not really Bad, but Just OKAY): The movie isn’t as beautiful as the Ocean movies from Clooney or the Sinatra movie but its theater worthy. Anne Hathaway makes the movie as a slightly neurotic movie star whose appearance at the Met is just as important a role in a blockbuster movie. The gags felt old after a while, particularly Helena Bonham Carter’s Rose whose quirkiness was over the top and at times a turn off. Although each character got to shine individually, together the group is not as strong. The plot was shaky and the cast deserved better, a lot better.
“Ocean’s 8” is fun and a must see for the Met Gala setting and fashion.
Rating: PG-13
Stars: Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, Mindy Kaling, Rihanna, Helena Bonham Carter, Sarah Paulson, Awkwafina, Richard Armitage, James Corden
Writers: Gary Ross & Olivia Milch, story by Gary Ross, based on characters created by George Clayton Johnson & Jack Golden Russell
Director: Gary Ross
Distributor: Warner Bros.
Release Date: June 8, 2018
