Film Review - Night at the Museum 3

Art Effects 

Film: Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb

Cast: Ben Stiller, Robin Williams, Ricky Gervais

Directed by: Shawn Levy

Duration: 1 hr 39 mins

Rating:  * * *

If you have seen any of the two previous installments of this franchise, then you know exactly what to expect in this edition of Night at the Museum and if you’ve liked previous films, this one will please you as well. 

Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb is a fluffy family entertainer. For kids, it might also serve as a lesson in world history but then barring a couple of characters, you’ve seen the others before.

In the opening sequence set in 1938, we are told about the tablet of Ahkmenrah which is extracted in Egypt but the locals fear that it will bring the end.  The tablet is pretty much the size of a 10” tab. 

In present day, Larry (Ben Stiller) is in charge of a high profile event at the Museum of Natural History and suddenly everything goes haywire. Ahkmenrah, Teddy Roosevelt, Sacagawea, Attila the Hun, Dexter the Capuchin Monkey and the Tyrannosaurus skeleton they go crazy. All because that age old tablet is now getting corroded. 

The solution is to go to England and seek advice from Ahkmenrah’s parents who are in the British Museum. There, the gang also meets sir Lancelot an additional character among the usual suspects.

The entertainment is harmless, you don’t even have to join the dots they automatically join themselves. There are a couple of funny scenes, one involving a cameo by Hugh Jackman which is genuinely funny.    It is also peppered with some pop-cultural and historical references from time to time in order to cater to those who might find the proceedings a little dumb for their liking.

The film drags towards the end making you a little desperate but if middle of the road entertainment is your thing, then go ahead and enjoy it.  

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Film Review - Muppets Most Wanted

 

Still Jolly Good Fun

Film: Muppets Most Wanted
Cast: Ricky Gervais, Tina Fey, Ty Burrell
Directed by: James Bobin
Duration: 1 hr 50 mins
Rating: *  *  * 1 / 2

Director James Bobin revived the Muppets on the big screen with the 2011 film becoming a grand success. Rarely does a sequel of a film stand up to its predecessor and Muppets Most Wanted is jolly good fun for everyone.

Even though the story is simple there is something enchanting about it and the funny lines galore making you chuckle from time to time.

Constantine (voice of Matt Vogel) is the world’s most dreaded frog and a number one criminal who manages to escape from the Gulag prison in Siberia . The Muppets meanwhile have recruited a new manager (Ricky Gervais) who is planning a deadly heist with the criminal. Since Constantine and Kermit the leader of the Muppets look alike, there is a switch and the two villains use the Muppet shows to execute their nefarious plans.

Tina Fey plays a Siberian prison guard and there are cameos by Salma Hayek, Christoph Waltz and Celine Dion. The tone of the film is on the lighter side and while there is the message about friendship et al, for most parts it doesn’t take itself seriously.  There is a fair bit of singing and dancing and the musical pieces add to the charm.
 

The repartee between a couple of detectives, an American CIA agent and a Frenchman is hilarious and when a film has characters of different nationalities, their accents can also add some humor.

The film will charm the old timers familiar with the Muppets and will certainly win some new hearts as well. It is always fun to watch Ricky Gervais and Tina Fey although the former is a bit low key in the film. They may be age old but the Muppets are still good fun. 

Published in The Navhind Times on 23rd Mar 2014

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