Synopsis: When the Museum of Natural History decides to do renovations its inhabitants are sent to the Smithsonian Archives, only to come under attack by Kahmunrah, an ancient Egyptian. Security Guard Larry Daley must infiltrate the Smithsonian to rescue them in Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian.
Release Date: May 22, 2009 MPAA Rating: PG-13
Genre(s): Comedy, Action
Film Review
Production
Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian is more an excuse to animate and bring to life historical figures, famous paintings, and treasured art than to offer a well-rounded story. It purely moves along at a stagnant pace and never truly offers up stakes that make you invest more than a fleeting amount of your attention. The only redemptive quality in Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian is the playful imagination it possesses in bringing history to life.
Special Effects
Aside from the unfortunate cartoonish effects of some characters and/or art pieces it is a wonder at how the effects were accomplished in Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian. From a walking Abraham Lincoln statue to a bouncing modern art sculpture, it is sure to provide plenty of smiles and thoughts of wonderment at the realness of some of art’s and history’s greatest treasures as they are brought to life on screen with such extensive detail.
Score and Soundtrack
In an attempt to heighten the thrills, and add a level of drama to the film, the score in Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian is overly suspenseful and it does not match up well to the actual tone of the dialogue and action on screen. Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian possesses too much of a comical and light tone for such a dark, ominous, and dramatic score. It is far too intense and feels forced at attempting to make the movie more serious than it actually appears to be through all the other aspects.
Cast and Crew
- Director(s): Shawn Levy
- Producer(s)/Screenwriter(s): Mark Radcliffe, Robert Ben Garant, Thomas Lennon
- Cast: Ben Stiller (Larry Daley), Amy Adams (Amelia Earhart), Owen Wilson (Jedediah Smith), Hank Azaria (Kahmunrah/The Thinker/Abe Lincoln), Robin Williams (Teddy Roosevelt), Steve Coogan (Octavius)
- Country Of Origin: USA, Canada
