Exciting,entertaining and amusing...what more could you want?

Rating: 8/10 (8 September 2009)

There is almost too much going on in "National Treasure".Parallel plots involving the theft of the Declaration of Independence by two teams,one "goodies" team led by Mr N.Cage,one "baddies" team led by his erstwhile colleague Mr S.Bean,clues that would baffle a "Times" crossword solver, feats of derring - do that Sir Ranulph Fiennes would baulk at,cops,FBI, Freemasonry,Knights Templar......everything a boy could wish for in fact. An excellent cast have a lot of fun and I was particularly pleased to see Mr Bean shake off his dour working-class northern image in a rare excursion up the social scale as Mr Cage's fellow treasure hunter who shares his ambitions but not his scruples. Mr H.Kietel sports a Masons' ring on his pinkie as the FBI SAC with a grudging admiration for Mr Cage and his labyrinthine manoeuvres. Whilst tipping its hat to many adventure movies,"National Treasure" manages to create a groove as a clever and satisfying work in its own right.I found it intriguing and amusing,thought Miss D Kruger was a wholesome and plucky heroine,took my Ovaltine to bed and slept the sleep of the innocent.