Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian

Two years after experiencing a fast-paced adventure at Manhattan’s Museum of Natural History, Larry Daley (Ben Stiller) leaves his night guard job to become a successful businessman/inventor-designer with products like a glow-in-the-dark flashlight to his kitty.

However, Larry’s heart sinks when all of his museum friends are shipped off for permanent storage to the Smithsonian underground museum in Washington to make way for new hi-tech exhibits.

Later, Larry receives a distress call from his miniature cowboy friend Jed (Owen Wilson) asking him to come to Washington at once, and save them from ancient Egyptian king Kahmunrah (Hank Azaria). Larry rushes to the Smithsonian museum and with the help of adventure pilot Amelia Earhart (Adams), Larry again enters the world of night adventure.

The film is a fast-paced sequel to ‘Night at the Museum’ which was a big hit with impressive special effects. This edition promises much more in terms of technical finesse but the boundary between reality and fantasy is not clear.

There are many questionable scenes for the thinking audience. However, most children would be simply awestruck or won’t care for these. 

History greats Abraham Lincoln, Napoleon, Ivan The Terrible and other statues coming alive with the use of a magical Egyptian tablet is enough to let their imaginations run wild.

Stiller’s performance is much the same as it was in the first film, only a bit out of touch this time.

Adams as the chirpy American adventurer Amelia Earhart is the one who really saves the film. Her charm casts a shadow over the silly dialogues and rather week screenplay.

‘Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian’ is not for the hard thinking cinegoer. It’s best fit for children and those who have learnt to put a lid on rationality.