Let the secret out, this film is fun and exciting, with a terrific ensemble cast

Rating: 7/10 (29 December 2007)

Ben Gates (Nicolas Cage) is at it again. When a mysterious man (Ed Harris) shows up at Gates' lecture on Lincoln and the civil war and denigrates a relative of Ben's, Gates is out to prove him wrong. Trouble is, how? Enlisting the help of his father, Patrick (Jon Voight), his estranged girlfriend, Abby (Diane Kruger), his professor mother (Helen Mirren), and the computer-whiz wonderboy, Riley (Justin Bartha), Ben soon learns that the path to clear his ancestor's name will take him down the road of a lost treasure of gold, as well. Traveling to Paris, London and the Black Hills, Ben and company get closer and closer. Ben even "kidnaps" the President of the U.S. (Bruce Greenwood) in a grotto near Mount Vernon, but, only to ask him some important questions. But, others may be after the treasure, too, and, now of course, Ben is in trouble with the FBI. Will Ben locate the gold or will he end up in the penitentiary? This is a fun, fun flick with a terrific cast and an exciting story. It's no secret that Cage is one of the top American actors of all time (he's my personal favorite, check out Adaptation, Matchstick Men, and It Could Happen to You, among others) and he commands the attention of all viewers with his charm and energy. Keeping pace, Voight, Mirren, Kruger, and Bartha also give sweet, lovable, humorous performances. Harris is good as the heavy and Greenwood shines as a caring, intelligent President, where do you find one like him? The tale, somewhat implausible, naturally, is brimming with so much history that young fans are certain to head to the library and the Internet to find out what is true and what is imagined. Add on nice costumes, gorgeous scenery, and excellent photography and production values and you can see why the film will succeed at the box office. Please, make time for you family to see this movie sometime soon. Everyone will treasure the experience.