A scene that always puts a smile on my face from Ocean’s Eleven is when Danny (George Clooney) and Rusty (Brad Pitt) are “discussing” whether they needed one more person on their team. Clooney: “Ten ought to do it, don’t you think?” Pitt stares at the TV. Clooney: “Do you think we need one more?” Pitt still staring at the TV. Clooney: “You think we need one more.” Pitt continues to stare a the TV. Clooney: “Alright, we’ll get one more.” Pitt is still staring at the TV. The unspoken bond and the fact that Clooney and Pitt along with the rest of the ensemble seem to be having so much fun bantering with each other is why I rewatch Ocean’s movies over again and again (especially Eleven and Twelve, Thirteen isn’t my favourite). As a viewer, I really wanted to be part of that camaraderie.

In Ocean’s 8, we have Debbie Ocean (Sandra Bullock) as the heist mastermind and sister of Danny Ocean, who like Danny has been locked up for the past few years. And just like Danny, she has her reasons for undertaking the heist besides getting rich. We see her utilise simple yet effective five finger discount skills early on in the movie to great comedic effect, she’s a pro and she enjoys it. She seeks out Lou (Cate Blanchett), her longtime partner in crime and convinces her to help assemble a team to execute the heist she’s been planning for the past “5 years, 8 months and 12 days”. This level of seriousness means she’s out for blood and she’s gonna get it.

They recruit Rose (Helena Bonham-Carter), a once lauded fashion designer who’s run into financial difficulties and owes the IRS millions of dollars. Nine Ball (Rihanna), the hottest and most charismatic hacker and tech geek you’ll never see in real life. Constance (Awkwafina), a highly skilled pick pocket with a penchant for other people’s watches. Amita (Mindy Kaling), a jeweller who no longer wants to live with her mother and last but not least, Tammy (Sarah Paulson), a retired fence and now stay-at-home mum who secretly misses the action. There are no gratuitous team members and everyone has a pivotal role to play in stealing the $150 million Cartier diamond necklace. They’re going to steal it off the neck of a self-obsessed actress Daphne Kluger* (Anne Hathaway) at the Met Gala, which gives the director an excuse to put everyone in couture gowns for which I live for. Anyone who’s even remotely into fashion and pop culture would have a ball trying to identify all the cameos.

Did Ocean’s 8 new cast make me feel the camaraderie? Yes, but I found the plot severely lacking. There’s an underused villain in Claude Becker (Richard Armitage) and a very unnecessary addition in the final 10 minutes when an insurance investigator John Frazier (James Corden) shows up. It was lazy writing and quite frankly felt like they ran out of time and needed a way to tie the movie up neatly. You’ll know what I mean when you watch it. Regardless, I’m still excited for the next instalment, I just wished the amazing cast had a better story to work with.

*Note: Was anyone confused by the marketing campaign of this movie? All the promo stills and posters had Anne Hathaway as part of Ocean’s 8 and it ruined the twist for me. But would it be better for them to call it Ocean’s 7?