So in the US, this film has been released as Ocean's Eight (ref: IMDB.com). In Europe and elsewhere it has been released as Ocean's 8. Odd.
So if you were a fan of Steven Soderbergh's original Ocean series, this film follows the same formula but this time with Gary Ross at the helm. As well as directing, Ross also had a co-writing credit. Instead of Hollywood's A-List of "bromancers" we get an all-female cast for this installment of the franchise. When one thinks back to the outcry over an all-female Ghostbusters, there has been little in terms of fall-out or comment on this film. Have we moved on or was Ghostbusters and outlier?
In this octogonal installment (see what I did there?) the octet, (I'm getting carried away) includes Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Rihanna, Anne Hathaway, Sarah Paulson and Helena Bonham Carter (who inexplicably does an Irish accent that wanders between Belfast and Wexford!).
Danny Ocean's sister, Debbie has been in prison for over five years where she plans the perfect job and gathers an all-female crew to attempt an impossible heist at New York City's yearly Met Gala. In a sequence reminiscent of Yul Brynner recruiting The Magnificent Seven, Debbie Ocean sets about finding her comrades in Act I. The job gets planned in Act II and executed in Act III. Tab "A" slots into slot "B" and so on. The plot will not task you and that's not the point of these films. It's all about the camaraderie that the thespians are meant to have while filming, creating a goodwill and feel-good factor. They almost succeed. Bullock and Blanchett try to outdo each other in the coolness stakes. For my money, Blanchett edges it. None of the actors has anything tough to do, indeed the performances are all pretty one-dimensional apart from Anne Hathaway's. She gets to over-act throughout to the point of it almost being annoying.
This film is meant to be fun and it succeeds in this. If you've nothing better to do, fill up a big bucket of popcorn and head along to see this. You won't be disappointed. Just let it wash over you and yes, you will spot the plot-twist coming a mile off.
In a summer dominated by Infinity Wars, Deadpool 2 and Solo, it is refreshingly different. I just wish all involced had tried a little harder.