Ocean's 8 Review: 5 Ups And 4 Downs

Ups...

5. It Pays Respect To The Original Films While Making Its Own Path

Ocean's 8 owes a lot to the films that came before it, and it doesn't ignore it. The movie includes numerous connections to the 2001 Ocean's series through the form of cameos and character mentions but does in a way that connects nicely to the story and never detracts from it.

The movie also makes sure to stand on its own feet as well, telling a story that is all its own but still is familiar enough to recognize as an Ocean's movie. It's a satisfying mix and helps this soft reboot effectively continue the series in a way that can bring old and new fans together.

This was such a key aspect for the film to nail. If it handled the franchise handoff poorly or simply copied what came before, it would've been torn apart by fans and nothing could've saved it. Ocean's 8 wants to focus on different conflicts, characters and personality types that weren't represented in other films, and it's better for it.

Of course, there's still work to be done on this however, at least in the originality category. There are definitely familiar beats and story elements that are difficult to ignore for any long-time fan, but they will be likelier to plead ignorance if the end product's good. Stay away from inciting toxic responses from fans, continue forging your own path, and the sky's the limit.