Indiana Jones for kids

Rating: 7/10 (15 July 2006)

...with a big wholesome PG staple right on its forehead. While none of this sound promising, National Treasure is still a fun ride and well-made considering the audience it was directed at. I am always delighted to find a family adventure film so devoid of bad one-liners, cheap jokes and pratfalls that I am ready to give National Treasure a great deal of unmerited praise. It is not cheesy; its plot is not altogether unbelievable and the acting performances are surprisingly low-key and enjoyable and decidedly unDisney-like.
We follow Nicholas Cage as Ben Gates, a treasure hunter on a mission to unlock the secret location of a great, ancient treasure that the founding fathers of America once buried. On his way, he accidentally teams up with a curator of the National Archives--Abigail Chase (Diane Kruger). We also see supporting roles starring Harvey Keitel, Jon Voight and Sean Bean. Nicholas Cage is rather charmless in his part, and this is where he severely lacks an Indiana Jones edge and humour that could have brought so much to an adventure film like this. Sure, he acts with conviction - but with very safe and mild conviction. In the end, National Treasure is very standard and very safe in all aspects. It lacks edge, but it satisfies.