Not Worth Your Effort

Rating: 4/10 (13 May 1999)

Overall, I was disappointed with this movie. I know it's supposed to be mindless fun, but geez -- some parts were just stupid, even if you checked your brain at the door! For example, after Rick and Evelyn are confronted for the first time by the giant, horrible mummy, Rick shoots at him a couple of times, and then runs out of the building. Outside, when they are asked by others about the mummy inside, Rick just matter-of-factly goes, "Oh, I took care of him." What?? Come on! You'd think they'd at least run out panting or scared or something. Another example: the whole group of characters spends a good portion of the beginning of the film on their way to Hamanaptra, an adventure in itself, as they lose all of their possessions, etc. Finally, they get there, and you think that most of the movie is going to take place in this ancient scary place, far from civilization. But after the scene I first described, the next scene shows them suddenly in a nice hotel in Cairo! There's no explanation of how they got out of Hamanaptra, away from the mummy and the bugs, etc. These inconsistencies happen throughout the film.
Also, the characters made too many wisecracks for my taste. If you're going to put characters into implausible situations such as this, at *least* have them believe in what they're doing! The wisecracks remind us of the weakness of the plot and prevent us from really getting into the movie.
Overall, I would give this movie a 4 out of 10, if only for some exciting moments and good special effects. But don't be fooled -- this is in no way the "Raiders of the Lost Arc" of the 90's.