National Treasure still holds itself together despite some minor flaws

Rating: 9/10 (25 December 2007)

How good is National Treasure: Book of Secrets? Well I'm hailing it with exact same score I gave the original one three years ago and I have A LOT of good things to say about it. The biggest problem with the film is the complexity of the puzzles and story leave some major plot holes including the biggest one of all that holds the entire story together...how does finding a lost city of gold vindicate Ben Gates' ancestor? It just doesn't make sense. But even that is easily overlooked for a romping adventure with a terrific cast, some additions to the cast, and the second half is truly an adventure to behold. The best part is that National Treasure: Book of Secrets holds to the original formula by creating a whole new genre of action, treasure hunting by keeping things in North America with witty and smart puzzles and a treasure and history...all based on real events and places. This installments takes you from France, to the Queen's office in Buckingham to the Oval Office to Mount Rushmore without even taking a breath. With the original film (see my review) I really harped on the name of the film but I must have grown accustomed to it because I don't think National Treasure is such a bad name for the series...it's even fitting.
I have said so many times before that I do not care for Nicholas Cage but how do I keep saying that and then love most of his films (Ghost Rider aside--see my review.) Plus I love Ben Gates. Cage plays the swashbuckling hero treasure hunter flawlessly and I think captures even more personality in this second installment. He is even more likable, more wild and unhinged, and more fun than even the first one. Cage has a very bankable character with Gates. Justin Bartha returns as hilarious sidekick Riley Poole, and they definitely use him more in this one for comic relief which can be a risk throwing that much comedy into the role but he does alright. I think they should give him more of an action based role next time around, put him in the thick of things but he has some more neat gadgets and pulls the role off well and him and Cage have good hero/sidekick chemistry. Diane Kruger also returns as Cage's love interest (now broken up) Abigail Chase. She is lovely and sexy and the perfect addition to the cast again. She's smart and strong and looks confident as the female lead and a great match for Cage who has been paired up with some odd females in the past. The terrific Jon Voight also returns as Cage's father Patrick Gates. He plays a bigger role this time around which is terrific because he was so good in the original. His character is soft spoken, a little clumsy and shy and he does a terrific job bringing that character back. Newcomers to the cast are welcome!! Helen Mirren (who I admit I have not always been a fan of and I think she's over rated) does a really terrific job as Cage's mother and Voight's long time divorced wife. Voight and Mirren have great chemistry together and make great treasure hunters and their volatile and feisty relationship mirrors that of Cage and Kruger's relationship. Now a stumbling block...in the original film Sean Bean was a terrific villain, no holds barred, clearly evil and a terrific nemesis. A great predecessor would be Ed Harris, who is amazing all the time. He plays fame hunter Mitch Wilkinson who wants nothing more than Gates to lead him to a treasure so he can be famous. The problem is Harris plays both sides...sometimes he's evil and other times he's not such a bad guy and even comes across as a hero in the end. So the film is lacking something a clear good vs evil line. There is no real main villain. Harris's character is kind of wishy washy and not really strong in either aspect and that's a shame and a waste of his great talent. Harvey Keitel also returns in a very small cameo as the FBI agent who hunted Gates down originally and he's doing the same in a smaller capacity. Bruce Greenwood also makes for a terrific President of The United States which he has done before in other films.
The concept of treasure hunting in our own back yard is terrific and exciting and there is no shortage of underground caverns and terrific puzzles and right off the bat you're treated to a re-creation of the Lincoln assassination which is really something to get your blood pumping for the rest of the film. No matter what...either National Treasure film and more so with this one now there must be a suspension of belief. You have to let go of the fact that there is NO way a single person could sneak in and out of Buckingham Palace, The Oval Office, The Library of Congress and kidnapping the President...yes all the happens. But somehow the cast makes you believe it possible and this wonderful fantasy, slapstick, adventure comes alive. Don't hold back...this one is great for kids and adults and watch the first one and then go see the second, just don't take it too seriously and you'll have a great time!! 9/10