MOVIE OF THE WEEK (12/17-19/14): NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM: SECRET OF THE TOMB
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| "You think getting this group together was tough? We all had to have exact change for this bus!" Sacajawea (Mizuo Peck), Teddy Roosevelt (Robin Williams), Larry Daley (Ben Stiller, Ahkmenrah (Rami Malek) and Atilla the Hun (Patrick Gallager) take a break while trotting the globe in a scene from NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM: SECRET OF THE TOMB. Credit: Kerry Brown © 2014 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All Rights Reserved. |
KEY CAST MEMBERS: Ben Stiller, Dan Stevens, Rami Malek, Skyler Gisondo, Ben Kinglsey, Mizuo Peck, Owen Wilson, Steve Coogan, the late Robin Williams, Ricky Gervais, Patrick Gallagher, Mickey Rooney, Dick Van Dyke and Rebel Wilson
WRITER(S): David Guion, Michael Handelman (screenplay); Mark Friedman, David Guion and Michael Handelman (story); Thomas Lennon and Robert Ben Garant (characters)
DIRECTOR(S): Shawn Levy
WEB SITE: http://www.nightatthemuseummovie.com/60 SECOND PLOT SYNOPSIS (OR AS CLOSE TO IT AS ONE CAN TRY TO MAKE): Now in charge of "special effects" for the New York Museum of Natural History re-launch of its planetarium, security guard Larry Daley (Ben Stiller) is enjoying life as best he can. His English boss (Ricky Gervais) does not truly understand what the secret to the effects are ... And his high school senior soon son (Skyler Gisondo) is growing up faster than he'd like. Be that as it may, Larry spends his nights handing out with his "rejuvenated" friends like Teddy Roosevelt (Robin Williams), Sacajawea (Mizuo Peck), mini cowboy Jedediah (Owen Wilson) and Roman soldier Octavius (Steve Coogan) and mischievous monkey Dexter (Crystal the Monkey – I know; who knew the monkey had a full proper name?).
Then comes the night of the big premier – and all heck breaks loose. Larry's animated friends are off their game, acting all sorts of weird. This leads Larry to the discovery of a mysterious tablet in the museum's Egypt section. The tablet has started turning green and the greener it gets, the crazier and weaker his friends become. After doing some research and conferring with Ahkmenrah (Rami Malek), Larry realizes the tablet may be the secret to the museum's artifacts ability to come to life at night and stay alive. But he needs to talk to Ahkmenrah's father (Sir Ben Kingsley) to figure out the tablet's true power.
That's going to require a trip to England, which is where our story really takes off ...
WHO WILL LIKE THIS FILM THE MOST?: People who loved the first two films; Ben Stiller and Rebel Wilson fans; people who enjoy the special effects
WHO WON'T – OR SHOULDN'T – LIKE THIS FILM?: People paying attention to the rather lackluster and predictable story; people who find Ricky Gervais annoying; anyone who did not enjoy the first two films and/or find them all that memorable.
FINAL VERDICT – IS IT GOOD, GREAT, BAD OR DOWNRIGHT AWFUL? Secret of the Tomb is that kind of sequel where you literally can judge it by its trailer. For there is no magic to Secret of the Tomb ... Just a bunch of familiar parlor tricks you've seen before repackaged for your potential – and easy – enjoyment.
While he looks as if he's sleepwalking through most of the film, one would have to give Stiller credit for holding Secret of the Tomb together, save for the silly yet salvaged performance as his caveman "son." At least he able to muster some chemistry with his alter ego ... For most of his scenes with Gisondo feel even more awkward than their relationship is supposed to be.
Meanwhile, Wilson (Owen) and Coogan ham it up to the point of they are too much for even a movie aimed squarely at families while Malek with his constant wide-eyed gaze seems to be mystified by the whole experience until the very end of the film. Rebel Wilson toes the line between corny and comedic somewhat better while the late Robin Williams turns in the only even, sincere performance as President Roosevelt, which is misfortunate since it comes in such an retread of a picture.
Other than that, there's really not much else to say about Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb. For unless you are the type of person who sings "It's a Small World After All" when thinking of happy things or hums Christmas carols to yourself weeks before the holiday is here, you'll likely wish this Secret had stayed one.
WHO WON'T – OR SHOULDN'T – LIKE THIS FILM?: People paying attention to the rather lackluster and predictable story; people who find Ricky Gervais annoying; anyone who did not enjoy the first two films and/or find them all that memorable.
FINAL VERDICT – IS IT GOOD, GREAT, BAD OR DOWNRIGHT AWFUL? Secret of the Tomb is that kind of sequel where you literally can judge it by its trailer. For there is no magic to Secret of the Tomb ... Just a bunch of familiar parlor tricks you've seen before repackaged for your potential – and easy – enjoyment.
While he looks as if he's sleepwalking through most of the film, one would have to give Stiller credit for holding Secret of the Tomb together, save for the silly yet salvaged performance as his caveman "son." At least he able to muster some chemistry with his alter ego ... For most of his scenes with Gisondo feel even more awkward than their relationship is supposed to be.
Meanwhile, Wilson (Owen) and Coogan ham it up to the point of they are too much for even a movie aimed squarely at families while Malek with his constant wide-eyed gaze seems to be mystified by the whole experience until the very end of the film. Rebel Wilson toes the line between corny and comedic somewhat better while the late Robin Williams turns in the only even, sincere performance as President Roosevelt, which is misfortunate since it comes in such an retread of a picture.
Other than that, there's really not much else to say about Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb. For unless you are the type of person who sings "It's a Small World After All" when thinking of happy things or hums Christmas carols to yourself weeks before the holiday is here, you'll likely wish this Secret had stayed one.
OVERALL RATING (OUT OF FOUR POSSIBLE BUCKETS OF POPCORN):
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