"Ocean's Eight" does the bare minimum in order to coast on the diversion of seeing a host of appealing actors in front of the camera. With precious little to work with on the script level, however, the full breadth of their charisma is sapped. Apart, they have their moments. As a singular unit, their camaraderie proves a superficial afterthought. Fortunately, the heist is the thing, and it's a reasonably fun, if unsurprising, one. As a female-led spinoff of 2001's "Ocean's Eleven" and its two sequels, 2004's "Ocean's Twelve" and 2007's "Ocean's Thirteen," "Ocean's Eight" should have been sharper, smarter, and more interested in its leading ladies beyond the one or two traits each of them is given.
Debbie Ocean (Sandra Bullock) gets it honest while not being particularly honest at all. Sister of master thief Danny Ocean (played by George Clooney in the original trilogy), she is released from a five-year stay in prison with wistful claims to the parole board that she has learned her lesson and wants nothing more than "the simple life." The second she's out the door, she's back to her old tricks, swindling high-end stores out of merchandise she hasn't paid for and taking over hotel suites by impersonating customers who have just checked out. Reuniting with former partner-in-crime Lou (Cate Blanchett), the two women prepare their next score, and it's a doozy: infiltrate NYC's annual Met Gala and swipe a diamond necklace worth $150 million off of Hollywood actress Daphne Kluger (Anne Hathaway). To pull this off, Debbie and Lou will need to gather together a crew: fashion designer Rose Weil (Helena Bonham Carter), jewelry maker Amita (Mindy Kaling), tech whiz Nine Ball (Rhianna), ace pickpocket Constance (Awkwafina), and kleptomaniacal suburban mom Tammy (Sarah Paulson).
See Dustin Putman, TheFilmFile.com. for full review
