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  There are two things which relegate Hollywood pictures to instant mediocrity. The first is making a sequel. Before we go any further, we should differentiate between 'sequel' and 'serialized'- Lord of the Rings was serialized into 3 parts, while, on the other hand, OCEAN'S 12 is a sequel to Ocean's 11. In a serialized story, there is just no way to relate the entire 'saga' at a single viewing - while in a sequel, there is just no way to bilk the public out of all their money at a single viewing.
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The second thing which relegates a Hollywood film to instant forgettability is stuffing the film with 'cameos' - a transparent and vulgar attempt by producers to appeal to 'star power' where they know in advance they cannot provide any real entertainment value to the movie-going public.) And OCEAN'S 12 indulges, nay, wallows in both these cinematic sins.
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But OCEAN'S 12 fails on an even more fundamental level. Hollywood being America's original "Spin Doctors", have long been foisting on malleable movie-goers the concept of the 'Caper'. Our morally turpitudinous Tinsel-Towners use the 'Caper' as an euphemism for outright theft, where the thieves are the protagonists - the 'good guys'. Big box-office 'Capers' go back at least as far as 1954's Rififi and 1964's Topkapi. -And the entire genre that was so spawned usually had what they call a 'star-studded' cast - after all, how can you be expected to cheer for the crooks if they are not 'desirable' stars? But where the real Spin-Doctoring comes in is that this form of theft is not only somehow OK, it is made out to be admirable.
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But not just anyone can pull off a 'Caper' - there are a few pre-qualifications to be met. First, you must already be independently wealthy - and the only reason you are thieving is because of the 'challenge'. Secondly, the heist must be very elaborate, very 'slick', thirdly, the heist must be for a very, very large sum of money, and lastly, you must be an international Jet-Setter; a 'glamorous' person. In other words, "Beautiful People" pull off 'Capers', other big-time crooks commit Enron scandals.
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