Disappointingly shallow Indiana Jones clone, with just about enough energy to save it from the trash pile.

Rating: Null/10 (31 December 2003)

The Mummy doesn't try to do anything original. It merely begs, steals and borrows all its ideas from a host of successful films. The most obvious source of inspiration is the Indiana Jones series. One of the most depressing facts about this film is that it became a worldwide box office smash. Either I'm out of touch when it comes to choosing an entertaining film, or people the planet over are perfectly happy to be ripped off by films like this that have not a fresh idea in sight.
As Indy rip-offs go, this one is at least an improvement on Richard Chamberlain's appalling Allan Quatermain flicks. The plot is the same plot that has always been used in mummy movies: adventurers awaken the mummified corpse of an ancient Egyptian. To add spice to the proceedings, this particular mummy has the power to wipe out mankind, unless the heroes can figure out a way to stop him - which proves a tad tricky as he's invincible! The characters are pretty much lifted from stock, with all of the following present and correct:
1). a fearless wise-cracking hero.
2). a spunky heroine.
3). a British buffoon (along for comic relief).
4). a totally invulnerable, superhuman baddie.
5). a sneaky ethnic traitor.
The Mummy moves at a fast enough lick to keep you interested, but never once is it genuinely exciting. Fraser's hero is a boring cardboard cut-out who can handle even the most lethal danger with a quip... how are we supposed to feel tense when the quest to save mankind is in the hands of such an infallible hero? There's an over-reliance on special effects, too, with lots of intentionally gruesome moments that are clearly meant to cause the audience to "ooohhh" and "aahhh".
It's not the worst film of '99, nor is it even a total loss, but The Mummy is resolutely average from first scene to last.