"The Mummy Returns" is one of those summer movies that is sheer, no-holds-barred fun that doesn't take itself seriously at all...

Rating: 8/10 (8 December 2007)

Two years after I saw Stephen Sommer's 1999 adventure-movie classic "The Mummy", I was witness to the sequel that is "The Mummy Returns." If you read my review of "The Mummy", you know that I love it... It was an action treat with some great scenes, memorable characters and fantastic action.
"The Mummy Returns" is definitely what I would call a 'solid summer sequel', and that implies several things: firstly, it manages to continue the storyline created in the original, maintaining what made the first movie good, whilst taking the story in new directions; secondly, it was smart enough to not abandon too much (ex. we don't mysteriously have characters disappearing between films, as happens in some sequels); and thirdly, it steps up the action and adventurous aspects of the original.
I will say, it does fulfill those three requirements, which I feel are necessary for a sequel's success (with few exceptions), though at the same time, I think that writer/director Sommers (who returns, along with most of the cast and crew) could have done a lot more. "Mummy Returns" is ultimately what I call a "dumb-fun" movie... It is ludicrous, and blatantly stupid at times, but still good in a way.
The story also seems a bit more silly and overly-fast-paced this time, only there to serve the often-overdone CG and action. However, Sommers is able to save it from being 'just another bad sequel' by working some of his quirky magic into the story and characters. I will give Sommers that... He can make the most cliché, mundane characters and situations into something special.
Rick O'Connell and Evie are back, now married nine years after the original, with a young son, whom is the typical trouble-making young hero you often see in these films. After they discover an ancient bracelet worn by the legendary warrior known only as 'The Scorpion King' (played briefly in a flashback by wrestling superstar The Rock), in a well-done opening action sequence that involves collapsing pillars and flooding water, the story is set in motion.
As it turns out, Imhotep, the evil mummy with a grudge against the O'Connells, is back, having been resurrected by some sort of oddball cult that want him to use the bracelet of the Scorpion King to bring the warrior back from the underworld. Once reawakened, Imhotep must slay him, in order to gain control of the unstoppable army of the god Anubis... the army which the Scoprion King once led thousands of years ago after striking a bargain with the Deity. With this army, nothing will be able to stop Imhotep.
Along the way, Imhotep kidnaps Alex (the O'Connell's son), after the bracelet permanently latches itself to him to act as a map to a pyramid of gold, where the Scorpion King lies... etc. It is all convoluted to a remarkable degree, yet, somehow still absorbing to an extent. Perhaps it is because we spent so much time with the characters in the original movie and already care about them... Maybe that is why fans were able to let go of the fact it is all so silly, and just enjoy the ride.
We get other returning characters, including Evie's brother Johnathan (who has some great moments) and the still cool-as-ever Magi Ardeth Bay. We also get new faces, including a silly blimp-pilot (yes, I said "blimp pilot), and the reincarnated Anck-Su-Namoon (the love Imhotep died for so many years ago), whom hopes Imhotep can restore her to her former self.
But let me just skip all the story and character stuff, and get to the real meat of the movie... the action! This movie is definitely a step-up from the original in terms of sheer volume and velocity of action. From the opening flashback where we see hundreds of warriors battling with a ferocity that would make Peter Jackson blush; to a great Soldier-Mummy battle on a double decker bus; to a fiendishly funny and creepy scene involving two-and-a-half-foot-tall "Pygmy Mummies", pretty much anything you could even conceive of for a "Mummy" movie is covered, and pulled off near-perfectly.
There are a few scenes that feel thrown in just for the heck-of-it, though, including a new riff on the 'sandstorm' sequence from the original (this time with a wall of water) and a flashback to an ancient 'sparring session' between Anck-Su-Namoon and the Pharoh's daughter, but they aren't really bad... Just a little flat when compared to the other sequences.
Also, I must make one comment regarding the final battle... Without giving away too much, I will say that while most of it is fantastic, it also has some exceptionally poor CG work... Though I have since heard this was due to money/time issues. But other than that one knit-pick, it was great.
Overall, I would say "Mummy Returns" is worth seeing to any fan of action or adventure. While not as good as the original, it is certainly a fun roller-coaster ride that will entertain you...