Night at the Museum 2 (2009)
Director: Shawn Levy
Writer: Robert Ben Garant, Thomas Lennon
Starring: Ben Stiller, Hank Azaria, Amy Adams, Robin Williams, Owen Wilson, Bill Hader, Steve Coogan
Language: English
Runtime: 105 Minutes approx.
Age Rating: PG
Genre: Fantasy, Action, Adventure, Comedy
Reviewed by Ross Miller
The aim of any sequel, particularly an imagination-fuelled blockbuster like this, is surely to give us something bigger and better than what we got the first time, perhaps expanding on things that weren't delved as deeply before. Sadly, that's not the case with Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian. There is only the addition and return of some of the finest comedic actors working today and some fun segments here and there that make this, frankly, unneeded sequel in any way worthwhile.
Battle of the Smithsonian picks up several years after the events of the first Night at the Museum, when Ben Stiller's Larry Daley is now a successful businessman. He still visits the museum every now and then, but as his invention business gets more and more successful, the less time he has to visit his old museum buddies. But one day when he drops by, he finds that most of the exhibits are being replaced in favour of new high-tech projection versions, and set to be stored indefinitely in the archives of the Smithsonian museum in Washington.
However, when Larry discovers that the tablet which brings the exhibits to life has accidentally made its way to the Smithsonian, he travels there to save his old exhibit buddies and help stop the havoc which will arise when the largest museum in the world comes to life. Once there, he encounters Kahmunrah who after coming back to life is threatening world domination through use of the tablet.
What happens when a big-budget kid-friendly fantasy/action film like Night at the Museum makes almost $600 million worldwide in revenue? Well, you get a sequel, that's what. Increasing the budget from the already-staggering $110 million to $125 million, this sequel is bigger, louder, faster, and more extravagant than the first one. However, bigger doesn't necessarily mean better, and in a much ironic way, the expanded mentality of this sequel actually hinders rather than helps matters.
Much of the fun of the first movie was the awe and wonder of seeing the museum exhibits come to life. Theodore Roosevelt, miniature-size General Octavius, and the giant Tyrannosaurus Rex all going from mere statues to living, breathing and moving beings really held your attention throughout. But here it's a case of been there, done that. And no amount of chasing, explosions, flying planes, and giant squids is going to change that. The sense of imagination, even if plenty is on display here, isn't as refreshing or wondrous as it was the first time, and that is what ultimately holds Battle of the Smithsonian back.
The mentioned exhibits of Teddy Roosevelt (Robin Williams, who isn't as fun to watch as he was last time) and Octavius (a wasted Steve Coogan), as well as the giant squid and Tyrannosaurus Rex are all back. Also joining Stiller once again (who is kind of interchangeable and flat as our hero) is Owen Wilson (watchable as ever) as the miniature cowboy Jedediah and Ricky Gervais has a quick appearance as the museum manager he played in the first movie. The additions are abundant, and are what provides a lot of the fun there is to be had with this sequel. Most notable are Bill Hader as one of the film's highlights, playing an incompetent General Custer, Christopher Guest as Ivan the Terrible, John Bernthal as Al Capone, and Alain Chabat as Napoleon Bonaparte (a bickering argument scene between the latter three is one of only two scenes that are genuinely hilarious). Amy Adams joins in on the action here, bringing Amelia Earhart (the first woman to fly over the Atlantic) to sweet, joyful, fun-filled life.
However, without the doubt the absolute highlight of the proceedings and almost a reason on its own to bother with the movie is Hank Azaria as the evil, power hungry Kahmunrah (he also showcases his amazing voice acting talent when voicing Abraham Lincoln and The Thinker). He plays the part with a dry, on-the-ball, sardonic wit that proves just how talented of a comedic performer he really is. With impectable comedic timing, he is over-the-top and campy as the film's villain, which is exactly what this type of movie needed. His extravagant world dominance plot reflects the nature of the film in general with it's abundance of special effects and manic, flamboyant action sequences. A scene in which he is threatening Stiller's character and warning him not to touch an item he is holding in his hand is the other hilarious scene of which I mentioned, something which is sadly a rarity within it's 105-minute runtime.
Despite its upping the extravagance this time around, Battle of the Smithsonian feels limp and uninspired. Much of the huge budget is spent on bringing the exhibits to realistic-as-possible life and on the action scenes in which they inhibit, but it's all in vein when the novelty of seeing these things come to life wore off at the end of the first movie. There are a lot of talented comedic performers who make appearances throughout the movie, most of them stepping into the shoes of a famous historical figure, and a few hugely enjoyable scenes here and there. It's a silly film that will only appeal to the kids in the audience while the adults only get the occasional chuckle when they recognise an actor from another movie. Ultimately, Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian does little to persuade you to make a trip to the a theatre instead of just renting the original, and annoyingly it just seems to have been made with dollar signs in mind.
