Film Poster
Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian
PG
1 hour, 45 minutes
Starring: Ben Stiller, Amy Adams, Own Wilson, Hank Azaria, and Robin Williams
Ben Stiller, along with an all-star cast, has returned to the big screen! That’s right, our visits to the enchanted Museum of Natural History are not over yet. This time, our favorite displays are taken to the famed Smithsonian Museum and when all hell breaks loose, only Larry Daley (Stiller) can save them.
I have to say I was a big fan of the first film back in 2006, and happily skipped off to the theater for its sequel. It was quite pleasing to have the entire cast back, including new and talented faces: Amy Adams as Amelia Earhart, Hank Azaria as Kahmunrah, and Christopher Guest as Ivan the Terrible. It’s films like these that have a sort of inescapable family charm that are hard to stay away from. It’s complete nonsense and a lot of fun. The comedic talent is very impressive and kept me laughing through the majority of the film. This is something that will keep parents and children entertained from beginning to end.
Yes, this is a film that I would recommend, but like most films of its kind it has some pit falls. Sequels tend to skip over reacquainting you to the characters and the situation in general. It had been three years since I saw the first installment and I had a bit of a hard time remembering all of the situations and character interactions. Maybe that’s not so important, but I like to know what’s going on. The major pitfall of this film is the organization of the story. I remember going into the first movie expecting things to come to life and not too concerned with a plot. I was pleasantly surprised when the emotional aspects of Larry’s life, his problems with his son, the relationships between the displays, and his battle against the former guards can into play. Needless to say, I was expecting a little more out of this one. Instead I got what I expected out of the first one, a bunch of running around a museum that comes to life. Regardless, it was still a lot of fun.
Amy Adams as Amelia Earhart
I have to say, if you weren’t completely in love with Amy Adams prior to this movie, you will fall head over heels. I think she’s a brilliant actress and her character work is nearly flawless. Even if these family films aren’t your cup of tea, Amy Adams’ performance might be worth the cost of the ticket. B-
