Now in its third installment, it’s stronger than ever
that this trilogy is based on one joke that has been extended way beyond the
breaking point, and not that smartly at that. Fortunately, this movie remembers
must of the disturbed silliness that made the second movie completely
enjoyable. So it’s watchable even if there aren’t a lot of new ideas, and even
if filmmaker Shawn Levy is really happy to settle for unnecessary digital
effects work where a small amount of character comedy would have been way more likable.
Back in his previous job as a night security man in
New York, Larry is now, as Rich Cline described, “Orchestrating the museum
exhibits when they come to life to provide spectacular shows for visitors who
think this is all a special effect.” Even his boss, played by Ricky Gervais,
doesn’t know what’s really happening. However, when a glitch in the magical
Ancient Egyptian powers causes commotion, Larry figures out that he needs to
fly to London so he can reunite Ahkmenrah with his father, played by Ben
Kingsley, who’s on display at the British Museum. Larry’s teenage son Nick,
played by Skyler Gisondo, comes with Larry, as does his exhibit friends Teddy
Roosevelt, tiny soldiers Octavius and Jedediah and everyone else. However, in
London, while sneaking around the Museum’s night security Tilly (comedian Rebel
Wilson), Larry and his team wakes a knight statue Lancelot (Matthew Crawley
from “Downton Abbey,” Dan Stevens), who joins in on their journey with rather a
lot of enjoyment. Cline mentioned, “Until Lancelot turns up, everything about
the film feels oddly tired, from the starry cameos to effects work that strains
to be clever. Then Stevens injects a badly needed jolt of blue-eyed charisma
and warped comical timing that makes the rest of the movie rather good fun.” Rebel
Wilson’s side-plot is actually pretty funny, with some perfectly silly touches.
Even the cameos get better, notably a part on a West End stage that’s honestly inspired
silliness. Coogan and Wilson give some harsh joking to escort everything that
happens, and Stiller, and Cline said, “Kind of hangs on for dear life.”
However, the filmmakers don’t really care about these characters. They’re just
trying to create something visually remarkable that’s also silly fun.
Cline said, “The quality of the digital trickery is
certainly impressive, most notably in some freak-out moments like a room full
of broken statues trying to move with missing limbs. And a sequence inside an
Escher painting is eye-popping. But there's little coherence between these
set-pieces, and no real momentum to the thin plot.” There’s also the problem
that the filmmakers are evidently not interested in museums at all. They never
make anything of the interaction with history or art (Cline said, “they don't
even understand that a historical collection like the British Museum is
unlikely to contain a dinosaur skeleton or an Escher painting”). Instead they’re
just happy to give a bit of high-budget, middle-brow entertainment.
Unlike the previous two installments where I was there
with my sister and one other cousin, this time we had some members in our
extended family that came with us to see this movie. Rightfully so, this movie
is dedicated to the loving memories of Mickey Rooney and Robin Williams. I
applauded when Robin Williams’ name came up, as that man deserved it since he
was my favorite comedian. One of my friends joined in when I applauded for him,
and I can only imagine what it would have been like if we saw this on opening
weekend. Possibly the whole theater would have applauded, but when we went and
saw it, only I and one of my friends applauded since he is, and always will be,
sorely missed from the movie and comedy world.
In the end, I definitely say to check this movie out
since this movie actually comes full circle and ends on a strong note. If you
loved the previous two installments, than you will get into this one just fine.
Especially if you have small children, they will be fairly entertained when
watching this. Check it out and see for yourself.
Now that I have finished the “Night at the Museum”
trilogy, stay tuned next week to see what I finish the month of June out with.
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