Another Sequel We Didn't Ask For

Steven Soderbergh's third roundabout "Ocean's Thirteen" (June 8) has more superstars than all the "Celebrity Poker Showdowns" in sum, and the teaser poster (left) for the heist comedy is up in multiplexes. George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Elliott Gould, Andy Garcia, Bernie Mac, Don Cheadle, Carl Reiner, Casey Affleck, Scott Caan, Shaobo Qin and Eddie Jemison return to grift Al Pacino and Ellen Barkin back in Las Vegas. Soderbergh's "Ocean's Eleven" was a effortlessly fun tossaway, but "Ocean's Twelve," with a more cinema verite swing and a lot of cards to shuffle, tried too hard to be inside, and as a result, was a drag. As far as "Thirteen," I'll probably fold come summer, but until then Soderbergh's slick angle for a paycheck (and commercial jackpot) will, in a phrase, be another sequel we didn't ask for. The new teaser trailer is available now at Moviefone. Old hat.