Ocean’s 8

Well, who would have thought that an all-female cast spinoff would happen to a popular franchise like the Oceans series? Well, the times up and the new installment in the franchise, Ocean’s 8 is that entertaining fun movie with relatively less intrigue and more of fun due to the treatment it gets.  While the other movies in the franchise are more like heist thrillers, this one here can be called as a heist comedy.

The movie this time has Danny Ocean’s younger sister Debbie Ocean getting out from jail on a parole. She is asked not to get in touch with any people of criminal background, but being one among the Oceans she couldn’t resist that urge to do a heist and this time she decides to steal a $ 150 million worth Cartier necklace during the Met Gala when actress named Daphne Kluger would wear it during the event. How that happens is what Ocean’s 8 all about.

The cast of this movie looks terrific, to be honest, and all of them get into the skin of the assigned characters flawlessly. Unlike the other movies, the modus operandi doesn’t have an edge of the seat feel this time. There is swiftness in the way things are proceeding and that is one thing that keeps you engaged in this heist comedy. And when you are about to arrive at a conclusion that this was a bit too easy and underdeveloped, writer-director Gary Ross gives you some interesting twists and reasoning that enhances the fun element of this screenplay.

Sandra Bullock helms the lead role of the Ocean, Debbie Ocean. She and Cate Blanchett have a similar wavelength in communication and that does make us realize why they are the best friends in the gang. Helena Bonham Carter was hilarious as the confused designer Rose Weil. Anne Hathaway carried the role of Daphne Kluger in a pretty impressive way showcasing the character traits without making a caricature like feel to it. Rihanna has the much-needed coolness to play Nine Balls, the techy person of the gang. Mindy Kaling plays a character of Indian origin in the movie. Awkwafina is mostly doing the acrobatics. Sarah Paulson is apparently the only mother in the movie and me kind of felt she deserved a little more screen time.

As I already mentioned, the emphasis here is more on making this female episode of the heist look cooler. I loved the way Ross sets up the character of Debbie by showing us how she skillfully tricks shops and hotels to get what she wants. The film then follows its template of the main character assembling a team to execute the plan. While the anxiousness factor is not that evident in the writing, there is a brisk pace to proceedings and the characters are designed in a way that we kind of get that Joss Whedon kind of humor in the conversations. And the whole operation here happens without much hoo-ha which makes the heist look a bit more genuine. The edits give the movie momentum and the cinematography also contributes to that pace factor.

Ocean’s 8 has done justice to the movies in the franchise by maintaining most of the things the franchise is known for. On a one-liner level, this might look repetitive. But the feminine angle that isn’t reduced to just the cast makes it an engaging entertaining fun film.

Rating: 3/5