Action, special effects, nonsense.

Rating: 3/10 (17 March 2002)

Mindless rubbish--that's how another IMBD reader referred to this sequel--and that's pretty accurate. The fact that it was one of Hollywood's designated "big" movies for 2001, grossing over $200 million, is not surprising. After all the Brendan Fraser heroics worked well in the first "Mummy" picture, only slightly less ridiculous than this one.
What you've got here appears to be the successor to the "Indiana Jones" series of constant cliffhangers, live-action cartoons that chew up characters with abandon. While extras die like flies, the audience apparently doesn't care that every bullet, sword and scimitar leveled at our heroes (a total of six people in this one) is guaranteed to miss and that every unbelievable scene is one-upped by the one following it. When one of those blades actually finds its mark and a major character dies --not to worry--the death doesn't take and she comes back. Surprise!
The sequel trades on the fact that we're already familiar with the Mummy, who's come a long way since his shuffling Boris Karloff days. This Imenhotep is a savage superfiend, part Spiderman and part Freddie Krueger, apparently with only one weakness--he just can't snuff out Fraser or any of the other members of his cinematic family. And, oh yes, there's a kid in this one who exudes as much charm as the insufferable brat brought to "Star Wars--Phantom."
But this seems directly aimed at the younger set and has video game written all over it. You've got some mini-mummies who come flying out of the tall grass a la the "jurassic" raptors and a scorpion king with the head of a Rock.
Without Fraser's breezy style, the whole thing would collapse but the producers don't appear too concerned with dramatic license. There's nothing unusual about Hollywood heroes overcoming ridiculous odds but whether it's James Bond, Arnold or Jackie Chan, the secret for success is to concoct a plot that allows for the suspension of reality.
Yet the "Mummy" team just piles up the special effects and trots off laughing--all the way to the bank.
I gave this thing a "3" only because it might do something to encourage further study of ancient Egypt.