Fun Book of Secrets

Rating: 8/10 (28 December 2007)

This time around in "National Treasure: Book of Secrets" Benjamin Gates (Nicholas Cage) and his father Patrick (Jon Voight) exonerate the good name of Great Grandfather Gates for the heinous assassination coup of Abraham Lincoln. Ed Harris's Mitch Wilkinson makes this startling allegation along with possessing incriminating evidence of a long held family letter. Also in prescribed convoluted fashion clearing the Gates family name explicably leads to the search for the mythical City of Gold thought to be built by Native American Ancestors. Go figure. Clues to The City of Gold are uncovered from the desks of the Queen of England and the Oval Office itself. The key to The City of Gold and the Lincoln Conspiracy is concealed in the ubiquitous Book of Secretsan urban legend of sorts. The Book of Secrets originated in the Hayes Administration, and consequently handed down to each succeeding President. Apparently, this Book documents all of our National Secrets running the gamut from Area 51 to the final Warren Commission Report. To obtain The Book of Secrets, Ben must kidnap the President of the United States. No problem.
Director Jon Turteltaub's "National Treasure: Book of Secrets" takes a while to throttle into overdrive, and it is the story set up that is most captivating. "Book of Secrets" has one of the most complex writing credits involving The Wibberleys among at least 4 other writers. This kluge of writers wildly veers in story coherence; however, they context some of the most amazing facts from American history. Or at least I think they do. Then again this is an entertaining action movie, so pointing out this failing is rather pointless.
Personally the highlight of the movie was not the chase car scenes or the deadly balancing stone platform, rather the conversation between Gates and the awesome Bruce Greenwood as the President in the hidden tunnels of Mount Vernon. Cage and Greenwood are compelling and smart in their discussion of The Book of Secrets. And as my bud Peter pointed out, there is perhaps a clue leading to the movie's sequel. The rest of "Book of Secrets" is cookie cutter action albeit excellently executed. The acting is impeccable. Joining Oscar winners Cage and Voight is Helen Mirren as Professor Emily Appleton, who is Ben's mother. The scenes with Voight and Mirren are classic and amazing.
Returning in "Book of Secrets" are Diane Kruger as Abigail Chase and Justin Bartha as Riley Poole. Abigail (Chase) and Ben apparently did not live happily ever after since "National Treasure". We learn that Abigail has asked Ben to move out of their estate. Riley suffers an income tax debacle since obtaining his share of the last treasure. He has written a book of his exploits, but still remains in the shadow of big Ben. However, all band together to clear the Gates family name and determine the location of the mysterious City of Gold. Cage, Voight, Kruger, and Bartha are good here, but do not lend any insight or depth to their characters. Again, this may not have been a priority for this movie. Cage has the right balance of smart ass and hero that works. He does so with ease and humor. Jon Voight and Helen Mirren nearly steal the movie.
"National Treasure: Book of Secrets" will not win any award. However, it is a wild ride, very entertaining, and visually stunning. Yes, it is needlessly convoluted. Just enjoy the ride.