Night at the Museum 2: Battle of the Smithsonian

RATING: B-

Sometimes some films that really shouldn't get sequels get one. And sometimes films that really *need* a sequel never get one. And then some sequels, when you hear they're out, you think "Oh, they made a sequel to this? Interesting" or some other other sort of reaction that is neither happy nor upset about it. I think that's the closest reaction that many had to the idea of Night at the Museum sequels. They happened. We saw them. Big deal. 

That said, Night at the Museum 2 ultimately turned out to be a step up. Two years after the first film, Larry Daley has moved on from the museum-night-guard job and is now a successful entrepreneur/inventor. He finds out that the museum is going for progress (holograms and projections) and moving away the actual exhibits... to the Federal Archives of the Smithsonian. And Dexter the monkey unexpectedly sneaks the tablet that brings them to life with them... and thus brings the biggest museum in the world to life. This brings out new allies... and enemies. Turns out that tablet can also be used to open a gate to the underworld. 

Night at the Museum 2 expands on its predecessor very well, introducing all new sorts of characters and concepts. We get introduced to new characters like Amelia Earhart, Ivan the Terrible, Napoleon Bonaparte, Al Capone, General Custer, Tuskegee Airmen, Abraham Lincoln and... Albert Einstein bobbleheads. Yes, Einstein bobbleheads. It's actually pretty funny. We're also introduced to the new concept of portraits within the museum and the character inside coming to life, and even being able to enter them. A very clever addition. 

Night at the Museum 2 also contains less of what made the first film a mixed bag (awkward humor and scenes), and adds more hilarious dialogue and slapstick, as well as some more actually exciting scenes. Let me tell you, a fight between a guy with an Egyptian sword and a guy with a flashlight may sound pretty stupid or one-sided, but it's actually pretty awesome. 

The film still does contain some drawbacks, though. The biggest glaring one is Amy Adams as Amelia Earhart. I find Adams annoying in almost every role she does, and this one is no better. She alone almost singlehandedly keeps this film from being A-grade material. She spends most of the time randomly and awkwardly flirting with Larry out of the blue. Another minor drawback is that a couple appealing characters don't make it to the Smithsonian (Teddy Roosevelt, the Easter Island head) and some other ones that I appreciate less (Sacagawea, Neanderthals) *did* make it. 

For the most part, though, Night at the Museum 2 is a vast improvement over its predecessor. The introduction of new ideas, expanding upon the world the first one introduced, and using more of the humor overall that is actually appealing; this film seems to get a lot right. Yes, there are some annoyances as before, but they are less numerous. Night at the Museum 2 is quite an overlooked and underrated sequel.