Once again, the displays and mannequins of a museum come to life during the dark hours in “Night of the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian,” a sequel to the family comedy hit starring Ben Stiller.
In the first film, Stiller’s Larry Daley lorded over (or patrolled, take your pick) the New York Museum of Natural History. There, a magic ancient tablet brought to life all on display at the historic landmark. It was goofy fun with roaring dinosaur bones and fighting dioramas, even if Stiller coasted – again – on his tired performance of a good-hearted dope who must rise to the occasion and be a good-hearted half-dope. But, by gosh, it had Dick Van Dyke and Mickey Rooney getting their villain on. Seeing those guys break (oh so gently) bad was giddy fun in the vein of Disney’s 1970s best.
Here, we get Stiller at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. As in the first go-round, all the displays come to live as the tablet is moved from one museum to another. The cool: Paintings, including a Pollack, come to life, as does Amelia Earhart (played wonderfully by Amy Adams, fast becoming a favorite actress). And there’s a toss-away cameo by Darth Vadar and Oscar the Grouch, both wanting to get their villain on. But as the main bad guy we have Hank Azaria (“Heat” and a regular on “The Simpsons”) as a lisping Egyptian warlord bent on ruling …. not much. Azaria is funny for awhile, but his banter with Stiller and then Owen Wilson (as a diorama cowpoke) grows tired.
It doesn’t help that Stiller consistently reminds us that none of this hoopla matters because once the sun comes up, waxen villain and good guy alike will fall still. Well, why not sit the whole film out and wait for sun up? Then chop the wax head off the bad guy, or dress him up as Lady Bird Johnson just to mess with his manhood. (Plenty of jokes already abound concerning a tunic being a dress.) Most films are pointless fun, but for the lead character to literally say it on screen is a kick in the shorts. Silly “cameos” by the Jonas brothers are pointless, at least to anyone older than 11.
Adams wins the film major points with charm and 1920s-era know how, pushing it nearly to a win. More films, especially those geared toward children, could use female characters and actresses such as her. That said, the first outing is the better. C+
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Bah humbug! It was a fun film. Hank Azaria was a hoot. You didn't even mention his silly villan accomplices, such as Ivan the Terrible, Napalone and Al Capone. We suddenly have all of these arrogant bad guys (with major personality defects) from throughout history trying to work together to take over the world. They added a wonderful dynamic and some fun banter to the film. We also had a witty introduction to The Thinker and this film gave us a new glimpse into the mind of Abraham Lincoln - who seems to have developed some serious hate against all birds.
ReplyDeleteI give this film an A- for being just plain fun.