All the old faces and many new ones made it to the largely unexpected sequel of 2006’s fantasy comedy A Night at the Museum, surrounding the exhibits at the American Museum of Natural History which magically come alive at night. The new instalment continues the tale of Larry Daley two years after the incidents in the first film, who has now set up his own manufacturing company after giving up his post as a night guard.
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Upon returning to the Museum Larry finds that renovations and some new innovations have led to most of the exhibits being transported to the Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC and away from the Tablet of Ahkmenrah which brings them to life. However, after learning that the Tablet had also been secretly brought to the Smithsonian, Larry has to now help his friends defeat a new foe in Pharaoh Kahmunrah who intends to use the tablet to summon a legion of warriors from the underworld. With the help of Napoleon Bonaparte, Ivan the Terrible and Al Capone, the Pharaoh attempts to seek the hidden code that the tablet contains in order to release his armies.
The sequel sees most of its first characters reprising their roles including Ben Stiller as Larry, Owen Wilson as Jedediah Smith, Steve Coogan as Octavius, Robin Williams as Theodore Roosevelt and Ricky Gervais as Dr. McPhee. However, the new characters play more prominent roles in the Battle of the Smithsonian including Amelia Earhart played by Amy Adams and Pharaoh Kahmunrah played by the incredibly funny Hank Azaria. The second instalment also sees director Shawn Levy returning to his seat behind the camera.
The film produced some great comedic moments especially between Stiller and Azaria who were a terrific pairing while Amy Adams gave brightness and a certain presence to the whole film as she does with most of her work. However, the pick of the lot was certainly Azaria who made the film a laugh riot every scene he was in with his impeccable comic timing and a four-time Emmy winning finesse about his delivery.
Special mention must go to Jonah Hill who gave a great cameo appearance as an unnamed Museum Guard at the Smithsonian. The script too was incredibly funny throughout its course keeping the audience interested in every sequence. The special effects also put on a spectacle for its viewers but did well not to distract the audience from what was going on.
The plot however was not the most innovative one out there and neither was it incredibly enthralling. With plenty of loopholes and even more question marks that are bound to pop up in all its viewers’ heads the story is not one to be over analyzed or dissected. The film nevertheless provides so much great fun and humour within its course that it was more enjoyable than the first film and a great film for the entire family. A quirky story and a host of great comedic talent on display make this film a very decent watch.
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