Ben Stiller wrestles with extinct beasts, historical figures, and meddling monkeys in Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian, the sequel to the popular 2006 special-effects extravaganza. This time, the ancient Egyptian tablet (the one that brings all the exhibits at New York's Museum of Natural History to life at night) is being shipped off to the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C.--which, as the movie diligently tells us, is the largest museum in the world. Naturally, former museum guard Larry Daley (Ben Stiller) heads down to rescue it (and, by extension, keep his magical museum friends alive). He ends up fighting with a nasty pharaoh who talks like Boris Karloff (Hank Azaria, The Simpsons) and falling in love with Amelia Earhart (Amy Adams, Enchanted). All the old gang are along for the ride, including Dexter the monkey; much face-slapping and special effects ensue. There aren't many surprises, but Battle of the Smithsonian is cheerful enough to entertain everyone who enjoyed the first movie. Extras include commentaries by the director and the writers, the usual self-congratulatory making-of featurette, deleted scenes that are actually as good as the rest of the movie, an alternate ending, and an entirely pointless second disc about Crystal, the capuchin monkey who plays Dexter (the monkey disc has less than a half-hour of material, including two mediocre games). The great supporting cast from the first movie returns, including Owen Wilson, Steve Coogan, and Robin Williams. --Bret Fetzer
Stills from Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (Click for larger image) |
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 Even Better than the First! |
| Review Date: August 16, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Charles Evans, North Carolina |
My wife and I enjoyed the original "Night at the Museum" we expected to the sequel to be typical of seconds... not quite as good. However, "Battle of the Smithsonian" bucks this trend - and in our opinion it is significantly better than the original. The plot is a bit silly - our favorite night-watchman had made it big as inventor of useless products. His new position as CEO means that he is no longer working at the museum. The museum has also undergone a few changes - namely most of the exhibits are being shipped into storage. The storage is below the Smithsonian... and that is where the action begins!
"Battle of the Museum" blends, action, humor and a numerous celebrity cameos into a fun-filled flick. The story introduces us to some Egyptian pharaoh (can't remember which one), Ivan the Terrible, Napoleon, Amelia Earhart , Abe Licoln, and miniature Einstein bobbleheads! The star of the story is the incredibly imaginative action sequences... the jumping in-and-out pictures, the banter of Abe Lincoln.... all of it light-hearted and very entertaining.
As far as the acting - Ben Stiller was .... Ben Stiller - you either love him or you hate him. We really did enjoy Amy Adams as Amelia Earhart - she seems to have nailed the accent, look and walk - plus she was very funny!
Final Verdict - Recommended for everyone (This is a very kid friendly movie) but it highly recommended for everyone who enjoyed the original.
5 Stars |
Clean for Kids, Enjoyable for Whole Family
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| Review Date: June 8, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Michele, Northeast Ohio |
| Finally, a movie all ages can enjoy. And please take note, Hollywood -- yes, it can be done without swearing, sex or violence. Clever dialog, great acting and effects. We're all waiting for it to come out on video. We would even have taken the kids to see it again if the theater experience wasn't so expensive. One of the only criticisms is that we would have liked to have seen more of Robin Williams character. Rest assured, this is one movie that won't leave you jimmy-jacked! |
Cute And Fun - Perfect Family Entertainment
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| Review Date: September 7, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Karen Joan, Texas |
My 12 year old daughter and I really enjoyed watching NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM 2: BATTLE OF THE SMITHSONIAN together. Like the original, NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM 2 is great family entertainment - no bad language, no blood, no sex, and no real violence. Just lots of fun, laughter, and a pleasant evening together.
In NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM 2, night guard Larry Daley has moved on and is getting rich selling his wacky inventions on television infomercials. But his heart isn't really in it; he isn't as happy as he thought would be. When Larry discovers that many of his beloved friends from the exhibits at the New York City Museum of Natural History are being shipped to permanent storage at the Smithsonian archives, he rushes to try to help them. But when the Egyptian tablet that brings his friends to life is accidentally sent along to the Smithsonian, Larry has a whole new set of problems on his hands. With every exhibit in the Smithsonian museums and the archives below coming to life, Larry must enlist the aid of a spunky Amelia Earhart, a vain and grandiose General George Custer, and a bouncy pack of Einstein bobble-heads to save the day, and make everything right.
In NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM 2 is a laugh out loud funny movie, full of some very creative action sequences. The museum exhibits still come to life, but this time they include famous paintings that you can jump into (reminiscent of Mary Poppins), pop art sculptures that chase you around, all manner of aircraft (from the Wright Brothers' first plane to a launching Apollo space craft), the gifts from the gift shop, and even a gigantic Abraham Lincoln from the Lincoln Memorial. Hank Azaria as the evil pharaoh and Amy Adams as a perky, independent Amelia Earhart are delightful additions to the NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM 2 cast, and Robin Williams is as charming as always Teddy Roosevelt. The special effects are pretty cool, and the jokes and slapstick keep on coming.
Is the story predictable? Yes. Did we care? No! NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM 2: BATTLE OF THE SMITHSONIAN is a great family summer film. It won't change your life, but it will help you forget your troubles for a few hours and have some fun with your loved ones. The entire family will grin, giggle, and out-right guffaw, with several good, old fashioned belly-laughs thrown in. NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM 2: BATTLE OF THE SMITHSONIAN is an excellent way to spend a cozy popcorn evening together. And who knows, your kids might even learn a little history!
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Battle of the brains
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| Review Date: June 9, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Steven D. Smith, Houston, TX |
| I think that this is a movie that not only children will enjoy, but adults who have a knowledge of history and catch an inside joke. After standing in line for an hour with 3 children who wanted to see this compared to Up by Pixar, and sitting in the front row, the movie itself was an enjoyment. My kids now know about Amelia Earhart, Amy Adams, and Abe Lincoln a little more. Instead of sitting in a classroom being bored, and learning PI and the first woman to fly over the Atlantic, they actually got to have a laugh......yes it is a sequal, so we all know that they are not normally as good as the original, but I personally feel it is the amount of knowledge you are looking for, and if you can read between the lines. Obviously from other blogs, some adults want the joke to just be out there and stand out, not something that is always going to happen on a G movie..... |
My kids and I loved this movie
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| Review Date: November 15, 2009 |
| Reviewer: O'rourke Dana Lindsey, Pacific Grove, Ca. United States |
| My kids are 7 and 11 years old and they loved the Night at the Museum movies! They are light and silly without all the violence. |
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