Second 'Museum' visit a triumph of style over substance

Cert PG

Family/Action/Comedy/Romance

Security guard Larry Daley (Ben Stiller) has left behind his old job at New York City’s famed Museum Of Natural History to front his own company, which has just launched a glow-in-the-dark torch.

Returning to his old haunt, Larry is distraught to learn from Dr McPhee (Ricky Gervais) that the old exhibits are being replaced by state-of-the-art holographic technology, condemning cowboy Jed (Owen Wilson), Roman emperor Octavius (Steve Coogan) and Native American tracker Sacajawea (Mizuo Peck) to storage in Washington.

On arrival at their new home, Jed and co are attacked by cranky pharaoh Kahmunrah (Hank Azaria), who has awoken from centuries of slumber and intends to take over the world with Ivan The Terrible (Christopher Guest), Al Capone (John Benthal) and Napoleon Bonaparte (Alain Chabat).

Night At The Museum 2 is a soulless exercise in digital might over emotional substance. Directed once again by Shawn Levy, the sequel allows the visual effects team to run riot by relocating the storyline to the largest museum complex in the world: the Smithsonian Institute.

A two-disc DVD and Blu-ray box set, comprising the original Night At The Museum and the sequel, is also available.

Rating: 2/5