Review: Night at the Museum 2

Having quite enjoyed the first Night at the Museum film but at the same time hearing it on a loop at the video shop where I used to work, I was anticipating the second installment with trepedation. And this was quite justified thanks to the slapdash nature of it. In the first film at least Stiller's character was likeable and juvenille enough to sustain a film in which he was trying to deal with the supernatural nature of the museum while at the same time trying to reconnect with his son. However this time the film has scrapped any aspect of humanism from Stiller and instead gone for cheap laughs and a bit of history for the kids.

The characters from the first film played by Owen Wilson, Steve Coogan, Robin Williams and Ricky Gervais have been overshadowed by two new faces. The first Hank Azaria best known for his Simpsons voices here putting on another silly voice as an Egyptian leader. While Amy Adams as Amelia Earheart is incredibly annoying and the weird relationship she has with Ben Stiller is a little disturbing seeing as she is a waxwork. Fairing better are Superbad's Bill Hader as General Kuster and Christophre Guest as Alexander the Great while various actors from the U.S. Office pop up for one or two line cameos and Jonah Hill steals a very funny scene from Stiller.

Overall this is an okayish family film but it is no way as good as the first film which had heart and structure where this just has its eyes on the cash its going to get from large audiences who enjoyed Night at the Museum 1.