So, here we have a star-studded, hotly anticipated December movie that's pretty much a guaranteed blockbuster. The first film did great business back in 2001 with a similar release date and the same cast, and was actually one of those rare movies that seemed to be more than the sum of its parts.

On paper, the idea of re-making what was really just a marginal Rat Pack flick with a bunch of today's A-listers may have seemed like a quick and easy way to turn out a box office hit, but the film itself ended up being well-received by critics and audiences alike, and it of course continues to enjoy long life on DVD. Ocean's Eleven did not purport to be anything more than a fun, trifle of a movie, and that was part of its charm.

Which brings us to the first full trailer for Ocean's Twelve. Although it doesn't make me want to see the movie any less, it certainly doesn't make me want to see it any more, either. The main message of the trailer seems to be that this film is simply going to be more of the same, as opposed to the bigger, better, sharper paradigm that recent successful sequels (Shrek 2, Spider-Man 2) have followed.

The motif of choice appears to be a retro-matinee look and feel, with cheesy descriptive intros for each of the main characters. Not exactly the direction you'd expect for the sequel to a film that was hipper than hip.

There are a few witty lines, and any clues about the actual plot are wisely kept to a minimum, but for moviegoers who aren't fans of the first film, there's not enough of a pitch here. Sure, Clooney, Pitt, Damon, et al. are reason enough for many people to see a film, but if Warner Bros. wants this to be an "event movie," their promo department needs to kick it up a notch or two.

The teaser trailer, which has been out for about a month now, is much more effective, if only for its minimalism. Consisting entirely of title cards and graphics, it succeeds by evoking the feel of the first film through the visuals, music, and witty tagline ("Twelve is the new eleven.")

Obviously, it's tough to judge a film based on a two-and-a-half minute trailer, but one would think that the producers would put their best stuff forward. Here's hoping Ocean's Twelve can at least live up to the original.

See the trailer here.

Previous "Tracking Trailers"

• The Life Aquatic
• Elektra
• I Heart Huckabees