Ocean's 8 Movie Reviews: Sandra Bullock and Anne Hathaway's Heist Thriller Fails to Charm Unlike the Original, Say Critics

After the dismal reviews for the female-centric reboot of Ghostbusters in 2016, it looks the same fate is being meted out for the Oceans 11 reboot. Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett and Anne Hathaway lead the female-centric reboot of the cult heist franchise, titled Ocean's 8. The original franchise starred George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon and Casey Affleck in the lead and was directed by Steven Soderbergh. The franchise is still popular for the cool one-liners, the smooth humour and the thrilling heist scenes and twists.

The reboot, Ocean's 8, meanwhile, is directed by Gary Ross and also stars Mindy Kaling, Sarah Paulson, Rihanna, Awkwafina and Helena Bonham Carter. The movie has opened to mixed reviews with critics claiming that the reboot plays it too straight and risk-free with none of the charm borrowed from the original franchise. Check out what the Indian reviews have to say about the movie -

DNA says, "To make a heist film work for you, there needs to be an obstacle course the group should overcome. Ocean's 8 lacks those climatic crisis scenes that lead to heroic saves from the situation. There is no last-minute mess up and rescue. The third act of flashbacks and surprise reveal staggers and shocks nobody. The cast has actresses hailed in their field but that's what they remain. They are individual characters working towards a common goal and never become a well-oiled machine ready to devour, or a pack hunting in the group like the original team was."

Hindustan Times says, "The entire first half is dedicated to hatching a flawless plan and while that is indeed expected to be less exciting than actual heist, it was never so dreadfully lacklustre. Not a single character introduction stands out in my memory and it’s a struggle to think of scenes that did manage to squeeze out a reaction."

FirstPost says, "It is not clear where the Ocean's series heads from here; this is not the feminist disaster that Ghostbusters was, but it also is not a big enough success to warrant a continuation of the franchise. It is a moderately pleasing jaunt that you would not remember a day later but there was no reason why a movie with these many stars had to play so ‘safe’; it is an ironic tactic considering how many risks the women in the film take to achieve the impossible."

Have you seen Ocean's 8? Do you agree with the above reviews? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 22, 2018 04:23 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).