Despite appearing to be little more than a cash in on an incredibly successful original, this was still one of the most highly anticipated movies outside of the Star Wars realm.

And not just because of some clever marketing approach or a McDonald's plastic toy tie-in.

No, people want to see Ocean's 12, not just because they liked Ocean’s 11. But because they really liked Ocean's 11. A lot.

And you know a sequel stands a chance of comparing to the original when the producers manage to get the entire cast back.

In an effort to maintain the freshness that defined the first outing, the action has moved away from the Las Vegas casinos that were the target for Danny Ocean's crew three years earlier.

Instead, the crew is forced to travel to Europe in an effort to recoup the money they have already spent from that $160m job.

Unfortunately, the victim of the Bellagio heist, Andy Garcia, just happens to know where they live. And he's given them just two weeks to get back into his good books by paying it all back.

The subsequent plot becomes more and more convoluted, often without you even realising it. Thus it would be a crime in itself to reveal what follows.

Suffice to say there are a series of twists that the most ardent of anti-Shyamalan viewers will struggle to see coming.

Unfortunately, the original was brilliant for being so simple, while this effort to out-do the job from the first movie undermines that element.

It was the apparent simplicity that brought such a wonderful feeling of surprise when the big reveals were made.

That, however, is one of very few criticisms leveled at the sequel. The new locations don't allow for any re-treading of familiar situations, and the cast are so at ease that the comedy is wittier than before, with more scenes played purely for laughs.

Soderbergh's roaming hand held camera, particularly in the early scenes, gives the A-listers a rare chance to ad-lib, an opportunity that appears to have suited Matt Damon more than anyone.

His character Linus, the quick fingered if somewhat immature thief, becomes the butt of many a joke, although he enjoys more screen time than the rest of the cast.

As the pace picks up in the final reel, there is one particular scene that will initially have the entire audience in stitches.

Even though it clearly goes on for 10 minutes too long, you feel as though you are in on the joke with these larger than life celebrities and, as such, you simply don't mind that the story is taking a backseat to the set pieces.

It is by no means a classic, nor anywhere near as slick as 11. The storyline has more holes than a fishing net and any film with a character called The Nightfox in it would ordinarily go straight to video.

But when you're in this sort of company, such complaints are trivial. Sit back and enjoy the fun, just don’t ask too many questions.

Richard Phippen