Product: The Mummy Returns [VHS] (2001)
Rating: 3.0
Overdone but still entertaining
Energetic cast from Stephen Sommer's 1999 original returns completely intact with the new addition of Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz's son. Taking place a few years after the original adventure, this episode finds our heroes taking on the vicious Imhotep (Arnold Vosloo) once again, plus the added threat of the reincarnation of his eternal love Anuksunamun (Patricia Velasquez, whose extended role reveals a shaky and moderately-talented actress). The two groups are racing against time to be present at the reawakening of the centuries-dead Scorpion King (WWF Champ The Rock), who will raise up his army and take over the world with his evil powers. The adventerous scenes are even more plentiful than they were in the original, though thankfully Sommers' direction isn't as heavy-handed as it was the first time around, thanks mostly to much better production design and a lighter score by Alan Silvestri. The film's only drawback is an overemphasis on computer-generated images that after a while start to feel a little awkward. Weisz is even more charming this time around than she was the last time, plus now she can fight like no martial arts champion can.