Nonsensical, but loads of fun.

Rating: 7/10 (15 November 2008)

Judging by the amount of websites devoted to them, everyone seems to enjoy a good conspiracy theory (well, everyone except for the 'people in charge'); Disney's National Treasure movies take this obsession with all things secret, throws in some Indiana Jones style action and some pretty preposterous hypothesizing, and delivers a healthy dose of lightweight entertainment that it's difficult not to enjoy, no matter how silly it all gets.
A star studded cast joins Nicholas Cage as he once again takes the role of treasure hunter Ben Gates, who this time must unravel all manner of hidden clues in order to discover the location of a lost city of gold and clear his family's name (which has been besmirched by rival treasure seeker Mitch Wilkinson, who links the Gates with the plot to assassinate Abraham Lincoln).
This half-baked plot merely serves as an excuse for more far-fetched problem-solving and adrenaline-packed adventure, the likes of which made the first National Treasure so much fun: Ben and pals break into Buckingham Palace and the Oval Office, kidnap the President of the USA, career through the streets of London in a car whilst being chased by the bad guys, and ultimately uncover a lost temple laden with booby traps.
Jon Turteltaub directs with gusto, ensuring that the story whips along from scene to scene at breakneck speed, and the excellent cast all do a great job, obviously having loads of fun in the process.
My only minor gripe is that the character of Mitch Wilkinson (Ed Harris) is poorly defined: at first he is shown to be a ruthless villain, attempting to shoot the heroes and endanger the innocent; by the end of the film, he is portrayed as a misunderstood adventurer who is willing to lay down his life to save his rivals. Still, with so much else to enjoy, I'm willing to be a tad forgiving (at least no fridges get nuked in this film!!!).