Fun fantasy

Rating: 7/10 (8 July 2002)

I watched my videotape last night with a friend who hadn't seen it (but had seen The Scorpion King, which I hadn't). I was struck again by how much fun is in these two movies. They strike a delightful blend of humor and action. The plot in this one is a bit muddled (don't try to figure out the timeline), but the first time through you just don't notice. If you liked the good guys in the first flick, there is more of them, especially Ardeth Bey and the Mehji. If you liked the sexy mummy, there's more of him too: and you almost feel sorry for him at the end. And then there's the Rock, who lived up to his name. He has just about as much acting ability as his name (which is the main reason I avoided The Scorpion King). I gather wrestling fans were disappointed with how little he was in the film: I was grateful. And I mustn't forget to mention the son of Evie and Rick O'Connell. Normally, I abhor films and tv shows that add children, but this one has all the feisty fearlessness of both of his parents, keeps his head under fire, while keeping the ability of all children to get into trouble. He reminds me of the children/young adults in the Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, and that's a compliment. Overall, if you enjoyed the first movie, there's lots you'll like in this sequel. I'd like to see more of them, even without the mummy!