20th Century Fox | Starring Ben Stiller, Robin Williams, Owen Wilson, Amy Adams | Rated PG | Opens May 22
I love movies. And I really like it when a movie turns out even better than I anticipate. When I sat down in 2006 to watch The Night at the Museum, I thought I would enjoy it, but I was more intrigued, more entertained than I imagined I would be (and I adored seeing Dick Van Dyke and Mickey Rooney on screen holding their own).
When I heard there was going to be a sequel, I was thrilled.
Larry Daley (Ben Stiller) is no longer the night watchman at the Museum of Natural History; he’s now the popular inventor of the Daley Devices infomercial products. One night he returns to the museum to reminisce and discovers that some of the exhibits have been shipped to the Smithsonian.
But the newcomers have awakened the museum, and cowboy Jedediah (Owen Wilson) sends Daley a message that a group of evil rulers are planning to take over not only the Smithsonian but also the world (can you hear a wicked, sinister laugh track here?). Daley heads to the Smithsonian to save his friends and restore order.
Some favorites from the first film return: Jedediah, Roman General Octavious (Steve Coogan), Teddy Roosevelt (Robin Williams) and even the silly monkey Dexter. But we will also meet new characters such as Amelia Earhart (Amy Adams), Ivan the Terrible (Christopher Guest) and Egyptian ruler Kahmunrah (Hank Azaria).
The film takes viewers on yet another wild ride. Like the original, this one is perfect for family night at the movies.
