The ultimate weakness of this otherwise-slick gender-swapped reinvention of Ocean’s 11 is the lack of any real adversity.

With a game cast, some great chemistry, a slick screenplay and sharp direction, Ocean’s 8 has the makings of a truly remarkable genre picture.

The problem, however, is that there’s little conflict. There are no hoops to jump through or real antagonists. Imagine the 2001 Ocean’s without Andy Garcia’s character for Clooney & Co. to lock horns with.

Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett and their band of touted, celebrated actresses are all fantastic — kudos going to Anne Hathaway above all — but it all just seems a little too easy, especially for a jewel heist worth $150,000,000.

The female stars have all the glitz, glamour and panache of the men from the original trilogy. That, thankfully, is true.

There is potential here for a new franchise here.

But if James Corden’s hilarious, bumbling and ultimately needlessly diverting insurance detective is the best villain the writers can find, then the ladies’ next job will surely be foiled.

3/5 Stars