Cast: Robin Williams, Ben StillerDan StevensSir Ben Kingsley, Owen Wilson, Steve Coogan, Ricky Gervais, Rebel WilsonRami Malek, Dick Van Dyke, Micky Rooney and Crystal the Monkey.

Director: Shawn Levy

Genre: Action / Comedy

Richmond and Twickenham Times:

Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb

Back in 2006 the original Night at the Museum was actually a well thought out idea. A rookie night security guard working at the Museum of Natural History in New York discovers that the exhibits are able to come to life after dark due to a cursed Egyptian tablet. I’m talking about an ancient relic not a cursed African iPad.

The film was an ideal candidate to let the modern day special effects wizards loose with the latest Hi-Tec CGI. This is the sort of film that the late Ray Harryhausen would have had a field day with his stop-motion models in the 60’s and 70’s. Due to the popularity of the Night at the Museum movie, it was expected that number two would soon follow. Fortunately the film was far from a number two! Battle for the Smithsonian pretty much the same film but with some new characters plus it was an excuse to flex the CGI muscles again. I must admit I begrudgingly enjoyed Hank Azaria as Kahmunrah, the Pharaoh with a lisp and Bill Hader as General Custer.  

Richmond and Twickenham Times:

All the Gang

Now we have NATM3 sub titled Secret of the Tomb. This third outing starts of quite promising with a flash back to 1930’s when an Indiana Jones type archaeologist is working on an Egyptian dig at the Pyramids with his team and his son who we discover is the young Cecil, the Dick Van Dyke character. Flash forward again to modern day and we see Larry (Ben Stiller) now in charge of putting on shows in the museum for New York’s high society socialites. The guests all think that the living exhibits are animated and technical special effects wizardry.

One particular Gala evening is going well, full of Ooo’s and Ahhh’s until the exhibits start to go out of control and run amok through the museum. This is a result of the Egyptian tablet starting to corrode so Larry seeks advice from Egyptian Prince exhibit Ahknenrah (Rami Malek) who tells Larry that they must travel to the British Museum where the main exhibition is being displayed and seek help from his Father, Pharaoh Merenkahre (Sir Ben Kingsley). If they cannot stop the tablet from malfunctioning then the exhibits will remain waxworks forever.

Richmond and Twickenham Times:

Dan Stevens as Sir Lancelot

All the favourite regular characters follow Larry to London and director Shawn Levy did actually film in The British Museum. But there’s something about the film that feels as though the cast are only making the movie under contractual obligation. On the positive side though there is a stand-out performance by British actor Dan Stevens (Downton Abbey) as Sir Lancelot who plays this role with some great comedy timing. There is also a nice turn from Australian actress Rebel Wilson (Pitch Perfect and housemate to Matt Lucas) as British Museum security guard Tilly. There is also a strange running gag with Stiller also playing another character called Laaa, a Neanderthal waxwork with a large forehead who is a dead ringer for Larry with the joke being that they must be related. Although personally I thought Laaa looked more like Tom Cruise under heavy prosthetics!

Richmond and Twickenham Times:

Neanderthal Laaa. Doing his best Tom Cruise impression!

I wouldn’t rush out to see this film but I think kids will really like it and Dexter the Monkey features quite heavily throughout the movie and also tugs at the heartstrings. What I think this film will be remembered for is some very poignant scenes between Stiller and the late great Robin Williams who reprises his role as Teddy Roosevelt. This was his last completed film as it was for another Hollywood Legend Mickey Rooney (as Gus) who also passed away this year.

Richmond and Twickenham Times:

The Talented Mr Williams

On a more cheerful note look out for a funny superhero cameo, I can’t say anymore.

Check out the trailer:

Foker On Film rating: two out of five stars.

In cinemas from Friday December 19.