If there's treasure here it's very well hidden.

Rating: 5/10 (14 May 2005)

Yet more from the rather dung encrusted stable of Jerry Bruckheimer; a slight vehicle for Nicolas Cage who plays a modern day Indiana Jones, albeit one who's smoked a lot more dope and isn't overtly physical. He's the latest in along line of treasure hunters who are convinced that somewhere in America there's a hoard of priceless artifacts which have alluded the common man for the better part of 200 years. The opener establishes that this trove is signposted in invisible ink on the back of that treasonous document, the so-called Declaration of Independence. The rest of the movie is one long chase as all concerned rush to steal said map and acquire the spoils. National Treasure isn't much of anything; light on action, thin on plot and about as subtle as pair of testicles in a vegetarian salad. It's supposed to be light and entertaining family fare and in this respect its partially successful, after all it moves along at a fair old pace and never gets too violent or taxing for younger viewers. That's not really enough to sustain the rest of us over the course of two hours though and its hard to escape the conclusion that its a decidedly poor effort given the potential of the premise. No-one's expecting Citizen Kane here but would a bit more attention to character and some descent set-pieces have killed anyone? Incidentally, a word to the Hollywood elite: NEVER cast Sean Bean as a villain again under any circumstances - I mean it, the next time I go on a bloody killing spree.