Fraser & Weisz keep the wheels from coming off

Rating: Null/10 (5 August 1999)

Undeniably goofy and seemingly overlong, The Mummy is nonetheless an enjoyable romp that manages to carry a good deal of kinetic energy into it's final fifteen minutes when the foolishness with CGI mummies running around, an unlikable and uninteresting villain, and a lack of suspense finally makes it crumble. Throw-away comic lines, superheroics from Brendan Fraser, and an amazingly radiant Rachel Weisz make the film enjoyable.
First, the bad news: the main villain, Imhotep (the mummy) played by Arnold Vosloo, is completely bland and uninteresting. The film was much better when it was about a race between adventurers to find Hamunaptera, the city where the mummy is buried. Well shot battle scenes, reliable banter well delivered, and interesting factions keep your attention and a smile on your face. Then Vosloo shows up. He also shows up in the beginning, in the 3-minute or so prologue to the 20th century action that explains who Imhotep was and why he was damned. He's awful. He looks like they were trying to get Billy Zane for this role and went for the bus-and-truck version, and then shaved his head. He is supposed to radiate intelligence and evil, and radiates neither. He detracts from every scene in which he appears. He is almost totally indifferent to the human characters opposing him, as if not recognizing them as people. Who directed this moron? One scene where he manages to address Fraser's Rick as an equal and explain his motives clearly (and Ms. Weisz' expected fate) would have added much, although due to reasons of logic his character wouldn't speak English. The movie's worst scenes are his or are based on his character's powers, save the sandstorm and the plane: the scene with the Egyptian peasants in Cairo was not threatening and even a bit ludicrous. By the time all the mummies began coming out of the walls, leading to a suspenseless and endless series of cartoon fight scenes, the wheels had well come off this film.
Second bad: while exploring Hamunaptera, the adventurers are attacked by some 'good guys' who guard the mummy's tomb in order to save the globe. Just when it seems the adventurers are about to be overrun, these guys back off and issue a warning instead of finishing the job. By that time, a lot of blood has been spilled. What's more, it's obviously just a plot device to explain why the guardians didn't stop the adventurers. After all, if Imhotep isn't awakened, what are we going to get to watch, Weisz and Fraser taking tea?
Okay, now for the good. John Hannah, whom I'd previously only scene as the gay survivor from Four Weddings and a Funeral, handles his throw-away quips well. All of the character actors appearing and supporting roles (Hyde, Dunham, Avari, Johnson, Watkins) are good and add depth to the animosity between the adventurers. Best of all, Fraser really can handle his Indiana Jones style role, and Rachel Weisz was radiantly beautiful without being a decoration. Their chemistry was good and I liked seeing them together, fighting, arguing, and almost kissing. The film as a whole (Vosloo being the exception) was exceptionally well cast.
Special effects are superb, and the fight scenes well staged and shot with great energy. The film could have deteriorated into relentless stupidity but managed to hold the rails without careering off course. I thought O'Connor's Beni character's death was too pat - I wouldn't have minded him surviving to continue his unctuous treacherous ways. I laughed a lot during this film and enjoyed watching it.