Night at the Museum 2

06.11.2009

Film Trailer

The former night guard Larry has to sort things our when an evil Egyptian pharaoh teams up with Ivan the Terrible, Napoleon and Al Capone to conquer the world. The movie has a few highlights, but overall the quality is disappointing.

Plot
This movie is the sequel to the blockbuster "Night at the Museum." There we got to know night guard Larry, who works in a natural history museum and who experienced an adventure of a lifetime when all the wax figures and skeletons in the museum woke to life at sundown.

The story in "Night at the Museum 2" takes place a few years after the first movie ended. Larry quit his job as a night guard, and is now a rich and successful businessman. Even so, his money hasn't made him happy. He visits the museum where he previously worked, and finds out that all his friends (the wax figures) aren't popular anymore, and are to be placed in storage in the large Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC.

Larry can't do anything to hinder the move, but when he gets an SOS from his friends the following night, he goes to Washington. It turns out that there is an evil Egyptian pharaoh in the large museum, and when the pharaoh wakes to life he decides to continue his call to conquer the world. He makes an alliance with the worst megalomaniac villains he can find, and puts his evil plan into action.

It's then up to Larry to save his friends and take up the battle with the evil alliance. But he's not alone. General Custer, Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt and an enormous octopus are only a few of his helpers, and he gets especially good support from the aeroplane heroine Amelia Earhart - the first woman to fly alone over the Atlantic.

Quality and Theme
It has to be said that the concept in "Night at the Museum"-movies is a good one. The idea of several characters from different ages coming back to life and meeting each other sets the scene for classic comedy with a string of complications and absurd episodes. It's therefore disappointing to see that "Night at the Museum 2" isn't anywhere near in fulfilling it's potential. Many of the scenes, which are meant to be funny, seem strained and unnatural. This especially goes for the dialogue. An example is the Egyptian pharaoh. Not only does he lisp to seem silly, but time and time again his jokes fall flat. The movie is also full of logical errors, and so many characters are included that many of the main characters almost drown in the crowd.

On the other hand, the message delivered is good. Through the movie Larry learns that the key to happiness doesn't necessarily lie in making a lot of money and becoming a great success. It's much more important to do what you like, together with the people you love. At the same time one learns some history through the movie.

There are some great moments too. The aeroplane queen Amelia and General Custer are lively and funny characters, we meet some hilarious monkeys and the many famous characters that come to life is a fun idea.

Suitability
"Night at the Museum 2" has a PG rating. Because of a string of dramatic scenes the movie is not recommended for children under eight. For older children it is a completely safe and harmless movie.

Conclusion
Those who liked the first movie will most likely enjoy the sequel, and if you're after a bit of light entertainment this is an okay choice.

Facts
Director: Shawn Levy Genre: Comedy, Adventure Actors: Ben Stiller, Amy Adams, Owen Wilson, Hank Azaria, Thomas Lennon, Robin Williams and more Language: English Nationality: USA Production Company: Twentieth Century Fox Length: 1 hour 45 mins Production Year: 2009 Age Limit: PG Suitability: Family BBFC's Consumer Advice: Contains mild comic violence and scary moments