Everybody loved their mummy!

Rating: 7/10 (28 May 2016)

Practically every classic film utilizing a theme of ancient Egypt or the invasion of their fabulous temples has been lovingly ripped off and spoofed in this completely delightful sword and sandals adventure. Starting off much like the 1932 Karloff horror film and its Hammer remake, it takes on a non-stop ride into comedy and adventure as the scenario moves from the ancient setting flashbacks to the 1920's. Old Maria Montez camp favorites are joined together with the many comedy spoofs of the genre, whether it be Wheeler and Woolsey's "Mummy's Boys" or "Abbot and Costello Meet the Mummy". There's even a bit of "Land of the Pharaohs" as the giant tomb closes up just as it had for Joan Collins in that 1955 camp classic.
You will be happy to know that this is completely family friendly with little to give nightmares even though there are some insinuations of horrific things taking place off camera. Perhaps the only thing that might give some viewers the heeby- jeeby's are the flesh eating bugs, but nothing is shown, only implied. Universal remade several of their classic horror films, and while this isn't the modern classic of "Bram Stoker's Dracula", it makes up for the over-done "Mary Shelley's Frankenstein".
The always refreshing Brendan Fraser may be a poor man's Indiana Jones to some, but he is a charming and irresistible rogue who is rescued from hanging by Egyptologist Rachel Weisz , agreeing to escort her to the valley of the kings where she intends to find the valuable treasures dating back to the reign of Pharaoh Seti I. Unbeknownst to them, the mummy awaits, cursed to the worst fate after murdering the Pharaoh after seducing his wife. The torment that he faces is nothing compared to what the invaders of his tomb will endure.
This moves by at a speedy pace thanks to the often Three Stooges style comedy. Mixing old style Saturday matinée fun with modern technology works wonders to keep this afloat, and it is a film lover's dream for good old fashioned thrills mixed with updated styles. Nothing to really criticize here even with a few clichés here and there. Some of the highlights include a chase between a giant moving walk of sand (complete with mummy face) and the small aircraft piloted by veteran character actor Bernard Fox, and the march of Pharaoh's mummy guards who only seem to be missing the "March of the Winkies" theme from "The Wizard of Oz". This is one of the rare occasions where I look forward to the sequel, if not the remake due in 2017.