Dir.
Shawn Levy, US, 2009, 107 mins
Cast:
Ben Stiller, Robin Williams, Owen Wilson, Steve Coogan, Ricky Gervais, Amy Adams, Hank Azaria
Review by Michelle Moore
If you are heading out to the cinema with children over the next few weeks, the adventure comedy Night at the Museum 2: - Battle of the Smithsonian will both entertain youngsters themselves and the youngster buried inside all adults.
This sequel picks up the story some time after the original with Larry Daley (Stiller) no longer a night watchman at the museum, but an inventor of things such as the glow in the dark torch. He still however takes time out to visit the Museum of Natural History and its exhibits, only to find one day that the museum is closing for upgrades and renovations, with many of the artefacts being relocated to federal storage in the Washington Museums. When the all important tablet from the first film joins the exhibits in storage, the museums comes to life once again with some new characters in addition to those we adored in the first film. It is up to Larry to once again sport a night watchman's outfit and flash light in order to stop the conflict between the museums exhibits getting out of hand.
The writers could have taken the easy route with this film and like many others, simply made a sequel with the same characters overcoming a new battle. However, it is great that as well as being replete with all the old characters - Theodore Roosevelt (Williams), Jedediah Smith (Wilson), Octavius (Coogan) and of course Dexter the monkey - writers Rob ert Ben Garant and Thomas Lennon have been able to include many new figures for us to familiarise ourselves with, including Amelia Earhart (Adams), Al Capone (Jon Bernthal) and a bobbleheaded Albert Einstein (Eugene Levy). Night at the Museum 2 is briskly paced with the action getting underway right from the start. We see the characters being packaged up, it is quickly established for what reason, then upon their arrival at their new destination the tablet brings to life all these brand new figures of history.
Do not be fooled into thinking this is another child's entertainment movie, as there is a lot to entertain minds of all ages; planes flying, rockets about to take off, chases and a whole lot of comedy. The adventure is the main focus of the film, but without the comedy, it would not be anything like as entertaining. The film is packed with comic characters, from Kah Mun Rah (Azaria) and his way of speaking and open-ended threats, General George Armstrong Custer (Bill Hader) with his lack of planning and the over confident Jedediah Smith. It is the actions of characters that make for most of the laughs; an octopus that finds comfort from the water of a painting, two monkeys fighting it out and Abraham Lincoln following instructions, as well as the characters that blend into the background like the singing cupids (Jonas Brothers) and the balloon poodle.
This was a most surprisingly enjoyable film. The first was great fun, but its sequel is remarkably inviting, keeping the viewer engaged with its originality, imagination and new characters. With the school holiday approaching, Night at the Museum 2: Battle of the Smithsonian will be perfect for a day out with the youngsters. |
