Good old fun

Rating: 7/10 (12 January 2005)

'National Treasure' is too long, silly and very entertaining. It is no 'Indiana Jones' but it has as much fun with its adventures and characters; that makes it more than worth watching.
It stars Nicolas Cage as a treasure hunter named Ben Gates who believes a secret map on the back of the Declaration of Independence will lead him to the greatest treasure possible. Together with Riley (Justin Bartha) he will have to steal the thing to protect it from Ian Howe (Sean Bean), his former partner who is after the treasure as well, at any cost.
While stealing they encounter the National Archivist Abigail Chase (Diane Kruger) and of has to come along to provide Gates with a love interest. She does not believe them at first, but of course she slowly changes her mind. After stealing the Declaration not only Ian is after the three, also Agent Sadusky (Harvey Keitel) and the rest of the FBI. In the second part Gates' father (Jon Voight) pops up as well, becoming pretty important in this silly story.
Indeed the story is silly and could be even stupid, but Nicolas Cage is the kind of actor who can make things like this sort of believable. Together with fine actors like Keitel and Voight, a Kruger who is much better here than in 'Troy' and Bartha who is very funny, they create an entertaining and at times very funny adventure instead of just another film. That it is too long is hardly noticeable.
Do not take it the least serious, just try to enjoy. There is a very good chance you will.