Release Date – 5/22/09
Larry Daley has left the Museum of Natural History in New York to start his own invention company. He takes a trip back to see his old exhibit buddies come to life and finds out they are all being shipped to archives at the Smithsonian in Washington, DC. While it sucks for everyone, they go along with it anyway. But someone brings the magic tablet that brings them to life and it causes a ruckus at the new museum. An Egyptian king plans to use the tablet to take over the world and Larry has to travel to DC to help his old friends. This movie was made simply because the first one made a boatload of money. The story is terrible and they throw so many characters into it that its tough to develop a story with any of them. And while a movie like UP is made for kids and adults, this one will only appeal to younger kids.
Ben Stiller gives a stale performance as Larry. It almost seemed like he didn’t want to be there but couldn’t pass up the paycheck. Hank Azaria was slightly annoying as Kahmunrah the Egyptian bad guy of the film. He doesn’t really do anything besides stand around talking in a weird accent and ordering people around. Then more and more actors get thrown in as the movie goes on like Robin Williams, Owen Wilson, Steve Coogan, Christopher Guest, Bill Hader, Ricky Gervais and cameos from Jonah Hill, Craig Robinson, Ed Helms, Jay Baruchel, and the Reno 911 guys Thomas Lennon and Robert Ben Garant. It just so happens that those 2 guys wrote the script also. Its almost hard to believe that they can write and act in a hilarious adult comedy like Reno 911 yet they deliver this craptastic kids movie with minimal laughs. The only saving grace in the film was Amy Adams as Amelia Earhart. She puts on her best Katherine Hepburn impression and pulls off a very cute, likeable character. She ended up being one of the major characters (along with Stiller and Azaria) with the most screen time as compared to everyone else’s 10 minutes each.
While the first movie gave a little history lesson to kids about these characters and provided a few laughs, this one falls flat in almost every way possible. Ivan the Terrible, Napoleon Bonaparte, General Custer, Al Capone, and other historical figures are just thrown in for what is supposed to be comic effect. Everyone in this movie is just trying to get laughs at all times… except Ben Stiller which is weird. And they really blow their load on special effects with a giant squid, the Lincoln statue walking around, and various other artifacts thrown in just for shits and giggles. It really is a terrible script with mediocre acting. I’m sure youngins will enjoy it but it doesn’t appeal to a wider audience at all.
IMDB – 6.1/10
Rotten Tomatoes – 45%
Movie Wiseguys – 4/10
