Not Twice As Nice…Night At The Museum 2 Falls Short
By Phillip Sayblack
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Sequels are rarely as good as their predecessors, in the movie industry. This is regardless of genre. It’s a curse that spans from one genre to another. And sadly, it is the case with the sequel to Ben Stiller’s outrageous hit, ‘Night at The Museum.‘ The first time around, the movie was a laugh out loud family movie from start to finish. It felt entirely fluid, with plenty of story. This time, however, the same couldn’t be entirely said.
Don’t misunderstand this for bashing the movie. ‘Night at The Museum: Battle of The Smithsonian’ (anyone notice in recent years how sequels aren’t Part 2, 3, etc. anymore? They have specific titles) was yet another enjoyable family movie among a summer of ultra violent, high energy movies that are less than family friendly. There is only one piece of foul language throughout the entire movie. And the comic timing from Hank Azaria as Kamun-Ra made for plenty of laughs throughout the movie. There was also the message about true happiness in life not being about financial and material gain. In such an era, this is an excellent message for kids. And it was wonderful that director Shawn Levy brought back the entire original cast from the first ‘Night at The Museum’ movie. This is where the movie’s real problem sets in, though.
The trailers for the movie make audiences believe that since the entire original cast is brought back, they would be incorporated throughout the movie. The exact opposite is the case. This time around, the original cast spends three quarters of the movie sitting out. Audiences don’t even see them that much, except for early on, and at the very end of the movie. The rest of the movie is taken up by new cast members, including the less than spectacular acting of one Bill Hader as General Custer.
The seemingly false advertising of the cast was not the only down side to this movie. While the first ‘Night at The Museum’ took place over the course of about three nights, this one took place over the course of a single night. It felt even more rushed than Larry probably felt in trying to solve the mystery of the tablet. And the weird sort of romance between Larry and Amelia Earhart was uncomfortable to say the least. Those who remember their 80’s movies will automatically see this as a reference to the old 80’s movie, ‘Mannequin.‘
There was one last major plothole that was not tied up at all, even during the movie’s ending credits, which did answer at least one question that could have been a plothole. The unanswered plothole revolves around the guard played by up and coming actor Jonah Hill Despite that one blaring plothole, the seemingly false advertising of the trailers, and rushed feel of the story, ‘Night at The Museum 2’ is still a fun family movie in a summer full of movies that are anything but family films.
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