Movie Review: Ocean's Thirteen.

My expectations were tempered walking into this one because Ocean's 12 was such a debacle. I came out pleasantly surprised because this is an enjoyable movie.

You know all the players by now so I won't get into that. The plot revolves around Rueben (Elliot Gould) entering into a partnership with Willie Banks (a surprisingly and pleasantly subdued Al Pacino) to build a gaudy, even by Vegas standards, new casino. Banks screws Rueben causing him to have a heart attack. Danny, Rusty, Linus and the boys all reunite and use all their resources to put Willie out of business.

By now all the actors now these roles like the back of their hand and genuinely have fun with them and working together. And Eddie Izzard adds some more class to the cast (he really shines in the early scenes with Clooney and Pitt) as Roman Nagel, some sort of security/techno consultant for hire. Ellen Barkin looks as sexy as ever and does a good job with limited material. And Matt Damon is given a bigger role this time out, which is good because he plays his various characters extremely well.

The fun of the movie is the Vegas setting, the hilarious scenes in the Mexican factory Casey Affleck is sent to work in, and of course the intricate scams going on. Even Andy Garcia had me cracking a smile. This movie is lightweight entertainment but it is entertainment. If nothing else it got be more pumped up for my Guys Weekend in Vegas two weeks from now.

7/10