Night at the Museum 2 stars Ben Stiller, Ricky Gervais, Owen Wilson, Hank Azaria, Amy Adams
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Film review: Night At The Museum 2 (PG)
By Kim FrancisMay 21, 2009
The soaraway success of Night At The Museum (it raked in $600 million worldwide) meant that it was inevitable that there would be a sequel.
With most sequels banking on bigger bangs, thrills and special effects, Night At The Museum 2 is no different – but where many sequels sacrifice script and story in an attempt to recreate what appealed about the original, Night At The Museum 2 actually delivers affectionately-crafted comic interchanges alongside a story that entertains and engages.
Larry Daley (Ben Stiller) has moved on from his job as a night guard at New York’s Museum of Natural History. However, having made a success of his career as the chief of his own company selling self-invented gadgets like the glow-in-the-dark flashlight, something is missing in his life.
In the words of Amelia Earhart (Amy Adams) who comes to life later in the film, he has lost his ‘moxie’.
As the museum prepares for a massive overhaul, Larry pays a visit only to find that many of the old exhibits are about to be shipped to Washington’s Smithsonian Institute for permanent storage, including those with whom he made friends when they came to life during the events of the first movie.
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When Larry receives a distress call from teeny tiny cowboy Jedediah (Owen Wilson), he discovers that mischievous monkey Dexter has stolen Ahkmenrah’s magical tablet, which brings life to the exhibits after dark, and transported it with them to Washington.
The whole of the Smithsonian is promptly brought to life, including Ahkmenrah’s (Rami Malek) angry brother Kahmenrah (Hank Azaria) and a whole heap of trouble is unleashed.
It is up to Larry to restore order and save his friends – while also saving himself.
Director Shawn Levy successfully manages to deliver a bigger, bolder film, breathing inventive life into new exhibits, from famous sculptures like Rodin’s The Thinker and Degas’ Little Dancer to paintings and historical figures like Earhart, Ivan The Terrible (Christopher Guest), Napoleon Bonaparte (Alain Chabat) and General Custer (Bill Hader). There are even appearances from Sesame Street’s Oscar the Grouch and Darth Vader from Star Wars.
The key to the success of this film is largely down to Hank Azaria, alongside Ben Stiller’s understated interplay with the historical characters.
Azaria’s Boris Karloff-inspired lisping voice ensures everything that comes out of his mouth is tinged with comedy. One particular exchange with Stiller, towards the end, is the film’s undisputed comedic highlight.
A cameo from Superbad’s Jonah Hill as a Smithsonian security guard is the other standout scene that will have you laughing aloud.
Supporting cast including Enchanted’s enchanting Amy Adams, Christopher Guest and Alain Chabat round out some stellar talent, supplying depth to characters and thick and fast laughs. In fact, it is only Ricky Gervais that is one of the few disappointments in this otherwise solid sequel in a mostly unfunny and unnecessary smug cameo bookending the film.
To be able to say I watched this film twice in one week without tiring of it even once is praise indeed.
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