Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb ***½ (2014, Ben Stiller, Robin Williams, Owen Wilson, Dan Stevens, Rebel Wilson, Ricky Gervais) – Movie Review

The British Museum provides the obvious but essential backdrop to the fun as Ben Stiller’s amiable curator-guard Larry Daley and his New York museum gang come to London for the third and final episode. The British Museum and London must be thrilled: this will do wonders for visitors and tourists!

It can’t have been easy to carve out a third story for an original that had hardly any story in the first place. Night at the Museum’s mostly just a series of characters, situations and jokes. That was true back in 2006 and again with the sequel in in 2009. And now in 2014 it’s true all over again. But, as such, a showcase for characters, situations and jokes, Secret of the Tomb is absolutely fine. More than fine, it’s better than expected, and certainly better than the modest part II, Battle of the Smithsonian.

All the old  favourite characters and their actors are here, along with many and new, in a handsomely gleaming, expensive-looking, spectacular finale that delivers quite a few fireworks. This time, Dan Stevens has a lot of fun as Sir Lancelot, raising the level of the laughter very nicely, especially when he catches sight of a bus advert for the musical Camelot and heads for the London Palladium, where he jumps on stage to confront its stars Alice Eve and Hugh Jackman (or Huge Ackman).

Australia’s Rebel Wilson works very hard to raise laughs as the plump museum night-watch caretaker. It’s not subtle performing, but it works, especially when Stiller is underplaying his comedy naturalistically. Indeed, Stiller does hold the centre firm and strong. He’s got a lot to do, and doesn’t seem to do very much, but it works, so don’t knock it.

To be honest, Owen Wilson and Steve Coogan are getting a bit slack as Jedediah and Octavius. They’re probably a bit bored with it, and the writers don’t seem to have any ideas for them, except to have them heading for Pompeii and stoke up their bromance into an actual closet romance, mistakenly pressing gay buttons here.

Dick Van Dyke is still game for it as Cecil, though Ricky Gervais is still doing the same old, same old act as the now sacked museum director Dr McPhee (yes, Stiller was responsible, or irresponsible, for that one). But, to be fair, Gervais does what’s asked of him and at least tries to turn his duff lines into laughs by his usual weird delivery.

Rami Malek happily gets more to do this time, as Ahkmenrah, with a useful storyline involving Ben Kingsley, no less, with a lot of eye-liner and mascara as his Egyptian dad, Merenkahre. Throwing everything into the mix, there’s also a brilliant animation action sequence, probably the highlight of the movie, inspired by the artist Escher.

Alas, after pumping up the laughs and a generally happy trip to London, it all ends in great sentimentality, with the irritating Dexter (Crystal the Monkey) kissing Stiller, but far, far worse, Stiller kissing Dexter. And on the sentimental side, there’s too much father-son angst and bonding for Stiller and his screen son Nick Daley (Skyler Gisondo), though both guys do it well.

Robin Williams has a surprising large amount to do in his not particularly rewarding role of Teddy Roosevelt (more than last time), and makes it pleasant and charming. Mickey Rooney has a tiny guest spot as Gus again. The movie’s dedicated to the two stars who have passed away this year. It’s all very sad.

I’m glad I had one more Night at the Museum, but they need to close it down now.

Beloved Hollywood golden age screen legend Mickey Rooney died on April 6 2014, aged 93.

Tragically dear Robin Williams committed suicide in his home in Tiburon, California, on Monday August 11 2014, aged 63. He had been battling depression and recently entered 12-step rehab for drug abuse.  He won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar in 1997 for Good Will Hunting, and won two Emmys, four Golden Globes, five Grammys and two Screen Actors Guild Awards. Mrs Doubtfire was perhaps his most enduring character. He was gearing up to reprise his role in a sequel

© Derek Winnert 2014 Movie Review

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