Night at the Museum was an unexpected hit in 2006; so naturally, they decided to make a sequel – Battle at the Smithsonian. That’s the bad news. The good news is that the sequel is better than the original.
As with the original, Battle at the Smithsonian exists, primarily, to set up a string of stunts and FX that will dazzle and amaze, while a small group of characters [most of whom are statues come to life] get a chance to play hero. The plot finds Larry Daley [Ben Stiller] in a good place as the inventor/head of Daley Devices [“Glow in the Dark Flashlight is one of mine,” he says with a certain amount of pride]. Business is good; Larry is now filthy, stinking well-off – and he just might have a deal in the works with Wal-Mart. But is he happy?
When he returns to the Museum of Natural History, he finds most of the exhibits being boxed for shipment to the Federal Archives beneath the Smithsonian – and replaced by holograms. He and his one-time employer/nemesis, Dr. McPhee [Ricky Gervais], commiserate over the ills of progress before Larry decide to take matters into his own hands – a necessity because a certain Capuchin monkey has stolen the mystical Egyptian tablet that beings the exhibits to life after sunset.
Before you can “Battle at the Smithsonian,” chaos ensures – and more historical characters –Al Capone, Ivan the Terrible [sorry, the “Awesome”] and Napoleon are enlisted by Kamunrah [Hank Azaria], Pharaoh with a lisp [and older brother of Rami Malak’s Ahkmenrah from the original], to take over the world by using said tablet to open a portal into the underworld. The rest is frenetic action with infrequent pauses for breath – a few of which involve Larry snogging Amelia Earhart [Amy Adams].
Although the plot is slimmer and chaos greater than the original, Battle at the Smithsonian is more fun precisely because it’s all about having fun. I mean, really, if having Amelia fly Larry out of danger in the Wright Brothers’ plane isn’t fun then I don’t know what is. Plus, we get a new gigantic animal to be turned into a winsome, if slimy, pet; some straight talk [and ass-kicking] from Honest Abe Lincoln; and everyone’s favorite miniatures – Jedediah [Owen Wilson] and Octavius [Steve Coogan].
Despite the seeming contradiction, the bigger, more chaotic action set pieces somehow work to make the character moments [especially between Larry and Amelia] more affecting. There’s a sweetness here that somehow supersedes the original, without becoming cloying and the stunt work is impressive. Director Shawn Levy’s knack for melding heart and spectacle is unexpected – after all bigger sequels are rarely better.
If you’re looking for some seriously silly summer fun, you should start with Night at the Museum: Battle at the Museum.
Final Grade: B+
EM Review by Sheldon Wiebe
Originally Posted May 22, 2009
It's intelligent: look for the tiny double-take by Dr. McPhee (Ricky Gervais) near the end. Enjoy the exaggeration of TV interviewer and guest praising each other and asking for cheers from the audience.
Marvel at Al Capone and his henchmen shown in black and white in the midst of the cast who are shown in living color.
Watch the ocean water from a Turner painting is sloshed over the giant animal. Be happy as the know-it-all cynical boys are literally blown away by the tyrannosaurus rex — who is still as friendly as in the first movie.
Just go, and have fun.