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Movies / On DVD / Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian
Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian

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Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (2009)

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Reviews Counted:158

Fresh:69

Rotten:89

Average Rating:5.1/10

Consensus: Night at the Museum: Battle at the Smithsonian is busy enough to keep the kids interested but the slapstick goes overboard and the special effects (however well executed) throw the production into mania.

Rated: PG [See Full Rating] for mild action and brief language.

Runtime: 1 hr 45 mins

Genre: Comedies

Theatrical Release:20-05-2009

Synopsis: Shawn Levy (CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN, JUST MARRIED) directs the sequel of his hit film NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM. Night guard Larry Daley (Ben Stiller), now a successful entrepreneur, returns to the Museum... Shawn Levy (CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN, JUST MARRIED) directs the sequel of his hit film NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM. Night guard Larry Daley (Ben Stiller), now a successful entrepreneur, returns to the Museum of Natural History to visit his friends--the exhibits that come to life at night--only to learn that they are being shipped off into deep storage at the Smithsonian Institution. To make matters worse, the exhibits at the Smithsonian, including the pharaoh Kahmunrah (Hank Azaria), are suddenly coming to life--and they aren’t at all happy about their new visitors. Determined to save his friends, Larry rushes to Washington, D.C., and makes his way into the inner workings of the largest museum complex in the world while Kahmunrah recruits the likes of Ivan the Terrible (Christopher Guest), Napoleon (Alain Chabat), and Al Capone (Jon Bernthal). Larry, meanwhile, finds himself with spunky Amelia Earhart (Amy Adams) as a co-conspirator and love interest, and General Custer (Bill Hader) leading the battle for the Smithsonian. The stakes are higher in this sequel, where even the paintings on the Smithsonian walls come to life at night. Stiller is his capable deadpan self as the now-successful Larry who finds purpose again while helping his friends, and Adams is spot-on as feisty, adventure-seeking Earhart, complete with period lingo. Azaria is a scene-stealer as Kahmunrah, who is menacing despite his lisp. Owen Wilson, Steve Coogan, Robin Williams, and Ricky Gervais also reprise their roles in this sequel, which is the first film to be shot at the Smithsonian. [More]

Starring: Ben Stiller, Amy Adams, Owen Wilson, Hank Azaria

Starring: Ben Stiller, Amy Adams, Owen Wilson, Hank Azaria, Robin Williams, Christopher Guest, Alain Chabat, Steve Coogan, Ricky Gervais, Bill Hader, Jon Bernthal

Director: Shawn Levy

Director: Shawn Levy
Screenwriter: Robert Ben Garant, Thomas Lennon
Producer: Shawn Levy, Chris Columbus, Michael Barnathan
Composer: Alan Silvestri
Studio: 20th Century Fox

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Reviews for Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian

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1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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Levy’s film is neither fun nor exciting. He’s stuffed it with special effects, star names and big numbers, but it has none of the exuberance needed to lift us out of our seats and take us on a thrilling ride.

Full Review Source: Sunday Times (UK) | comment Comment
05/28/09
Cosmo Landesman
Cosmo Landesman
Sunday Times (UK)

The special effects are astonishing, the spirit of a "can do" America suffuses the enterprise, and it's superior to its predecessor.

Full Review Source: Observer [UK] | comment Comment
05/28/09
Philip French
Philip French
Observer [UK]

It's a gag-packed, fast-paced, FXladen romp which will provide plenty of entertainment for all ages. Great stuff.

Full Review Source: Sunday Mail [UK] | comment Comment
05/28/09
Sunday Mail [UK]

a scattergun trawl through human (albeit mostly American) history and culture, with the emphasis more on entertainment than instruction.

Full Review Source: Little White Lies | comment Comment
05/25/09
Anton Bitel
Anton Bitel
Little White Lies

Compared with the wit and humour of any Pixar movie or Aardman feature this is shoddy stuff.

Full Review Source: Daily Express | comment Comment
05/22/09
Allan Hunter
Allan Hunter
Daily Express

This is a funnier and more coherent slice of kids’ entertainment.

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
05/22/09
Derek Adams
Derek Adams
Time Out
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Fine in the 'rather more than adequate' rather than 'really rather wonderful' sense.

Full Review Source: Channel 4 Film | comment Comment
05/22/09
Richard Luck
Richard Luck
Channel 4 Film
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Unlike most sequels, this “bigger, busier” strategy pays off, resulting in a romp that’s as affable as it is inventive.

Full Review Source: Times [UK] | comment Comment
05/22/09
Ed Potton
Ed Potton
Times [UK]
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

This is a throwback to those disreputable 70s comedies that found a spot for every unemployed layabout in Hollywood.

Full Review Source: Guardian [UK] | comment Comment
05/22/09
Andrew Pulver
Andrew Pulver
Guardian [UK]
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

I can only recommend Ben Stiller’s comedy sequel in the way I might a burnt sausage when there’s nothing else to eat: it’s not terribly appetising, but it’ll have to do.

Full Review Source: Daily Telegraph | comment Comment
05/22/09
Tim Robey
Tim Robey
Daily Telegraph
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

This rushed Smithsonian visit skims over laughs and excitement to cram in more museum paraphernalia and messages. Like the original but bigger and faster, it’s harmless but throwaway.

Full Review Source: Total Film | comment Comment
05/22/09
Total Film

Kids are well served with slapstick hi-jinks and mild peril but there are too few laugh out loud moments to keep adults entertained.

Full Review Source: Heart 106.2 | comment Comment
05/22/09
Simon Thompson
Simon Thompson
Heart 106.2

A comedy adventure that the whole family can enjoy, right down to the age of five.

Full Review Source: Daily Mail [UK] | comment Comment
05/22/09
Christopher Tookey
Christopher Tookey
Daily Mail [UK]

It's not quite as good as the unfairly maligned first instalment but, for parents, this is a foolproof way of filling a slot over the Bank Holiday weekend.

Full Review Source: Sunday Mirror [UK] | comment Comment
05/22/09
David Edwards
David Edwards
Sunday Mirror [UK]

Night at the Museum 2 is a fistful of family fun... brimming with amusing lines, great effects and a series of smart cameo performances.

Full Review Source: Sunday Mirror [UK] | comment Comment
05/22/09
Mark Adams
Mark Adams
Sunday Mirror [UK]

A great adventure for all age groups.

Full Review Source: Sun Online | comment Comment
05/22/09
Sun Online

This is designed to appeal to attention-deficit youngsters but will irritate or exhaust more discerning cinephiles.

Full Review Source: Financial Times | comment Comment
05/22/09
Karl French
Karl French
Financial Times

It's still strictly insufferable.

Full Review Source: Independent | comment Comment
05/22/09
Anthony Quinn
Anthony Quinn
Independent

Has the kind of laughs that might convince you that nothing is as bad as it seems: the movie is no masterpiece but if you could plug its good nature into the national grid you could probably keep Birmingham alight for a month.

Full Review Source: This is London | comment Comment
05/22/09
Andrew O'Hagan
Andrew O'Hagan
This is London

Add some gags with living paintings and photos, and the return of that monkey, and this museum is certainly worth the price of admission.

Full Review Source: SFX Magazine | comment Comment
05/22/09
Andrew Osmond
Andrew Osmond
SFX Magazine
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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