More cash, less brains - a disappointing sequel

Rating: Null/10 (23 May 2001)

The Mummy Returns visits all the horrors of action fantasy sequels upon us. Within two minutes, they commit the first great sequel crime of introducing an unnecessary pre-teen lead "to appeal to the kids". As soon as he speaks, you realise it's a performance so bad the film can't gloss over it. When he's off screen, which isn't often, the film has its moments, but you know it isn't the film you were waiting for. Didn't anyone realise part of the pleasure of the original was that it was exactly scary enough for kids? This is as scary as a visit to your gran. The plot is nonsense dragged forward by blather about visions and past lives. All the worst nightmares of fantasy film sequels are repeated. The boy is everything that was wrong with Anakin Skywalker. There's a pilot character like the lacklustre pilot from Mad Max 3 who was recycled from the quirky pilot in MM2. There are mummified Ewoks, which may have started out as ironic but when it comes down to it an Ewok is an Ewok, and that's not a good thing. There are some good set pieces, and some impressive effects, but it's very long, and there are some really bad bits, and too many of the effects are not very good. The first "Mummy" was a well-played action script and I laughed my ass off. The sequel is a little more than watchable. A big disappointment, its saving grace is a timely reminder just how good the original Indiana Jones films were.