Better-than-anticipated sequel to the popcorn crowd-pleasing franchise

Rating: 7/10 (7 January 2008)

NATIONAL TREASURE: BOOK OF SECRETS (2007) **1/2 Nicolas Cage, Justin Bartha, Diane Kruger, Jon Voight, Helen Mirren, Ed Harris, Harvey Keitel, Bruce Greenwood, Ty Burrell. Not bad sequel with Cage and company reprising their adventure-seeking roles this time Cage has to clear his family's name in having one of his ancestors supposedly involved with the Lincoln assassination(!) leads to all sorts of convolutions and cliff-hanging action and Mirren as his mom, and ex-wife of Voight, and Harris in his umpteenth villain role, adds some class to the otherwise enjoyable yet forgettable popcorn franchise chapter. (Dir: Jon Turteltaub)