Night At The Museum 2: Review

Sequels are very difficult things to handle. You are either grossly disappointed by them, never actually living up to the originals, or you enter them with trepidations and with expectations already at hand, so you think you know what you are going to get. The latter was how I was feeling as I sat down to watch the return of night security guard Ben Stiller and his historical friends. I have to say, that I left a happier man, as this is a far better affair than I even thought it would be.

The basic plot has Larry (Stiller) now a top businessman, going to the aid of the exhibits after they are moved to the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, where an evil Egyptian king wants the tablet that brings everyone to life for his own means of returning his own army and ruling the world. Que lots of running around, meeting up with new characters while trying to save his old friends.

One of the big improvements is that this one actually has a plot, and not a series of events. The budget is bigger and so the effects are, with some quite breath-taking scenes. The gags are also improved, with plenty of knock-about humour for the younger members, and some truly surreal mature humour for the adults (Rodin's The Thinker not exactly living up to his name, for example).

The cast are fine, with Stiller, Owen Wilson, Steven Coogan, Robin Williams and Ricky Gervais all returning, but this is where the film really kicks into gear...the new arrivals. Bill Heder as General Custer is a hoot, although Christopher Guest is badly underused as Ivan The Terrible. The two aces in the pack are Hank Azaria and Amy Adams. Azaria is hilarious as the baddie, and is given the best lines, delivering them with great aplomb and expert comic timing. The scene in which he and Stiller are arguing about crossing a line is one of the many highlights, and had me laughing like a loon. The real star, however, is Ms Adams, who is slowly proving to be a master of screwball, and you can't help but compare her to the stars of yester-year. As Amelia Earhart, she exudes class, energy and an amazing sense of comic timing. You tend to forget that Stiller is on screen with her, she is that good. You thought you saw the best of her as the Princess in Enchanted? Think again. This should put her right up there with the big players, and deservedly so.

So it may not be high art. It may not be that intelligent. It is, however, loads of fun and sometimes that's all you can really ask for in a movie.