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Movies / Upcoming / 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:156

Fresh:69

Rotten:87

Average Rating:5.2/10

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.

Australian Rating: TBC

Runtime: 1 hr 45 mins

Genre: Comedies

Australian Theatrical Release:
May 21, 2009 Wide

US Box Office: $177,118,775

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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21 - 40 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
Text View | |< << 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 >> >|
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 

With the exception of Amy Adams' performance and some excellent special effects, this sequel fails to live up to the first 'Night at the Museum' romp.

Full Review Source: ReelTalk Movie Reviews | comment Comment
05/30/09
Betty Jo Tucker
Betty Jo Tucker
ReelTalk Movie Reviews

Wow, count this as one film that completely took me by surprise!

Full Review Source: JoBlo's Movie Emporium | comment Comment
05/29/09
Chris Bumbray
Chris Bumbray
JoBlo's Movie Emporium

I know not every person is going to agree with me on this one, but I'm going to say it anyway: Azaria's lisping Kahmunrah is one of the most annoying and unfunny characters that has ever appeared on a movie screen.

Full Review Source: Watertown Daily Times | comment Comment
05/29/09
Adam Tobias
Adam Tobias
Watertown Daily Times

One exhibit that should be closed for the summer.

Full Review Source: Gazette (MD) | comment Comment
05/29/09
Jeffrey Lyles
Jeffrey Lyles
Gazette (MD)

... A pleasant enough way to pass 100 minutes on an uneventful weekend afternoon.

Full Review Source: Star-Democrat (Easton, MD) | comment Comment
05/29/09
Greg Maki
Greg Maki
Star-Democrat (Easton, MD)

After a slow start, a great deal of fun.

Full Review Source: Illinois Times | comment Comment
05/28/09
Charles Koplinski
Charles Koplinski
Illinois Times

...ultimately fares slightly worse than its uneven yet agreeable predecessor...

Full Review Source: Reel Film Reviews | comment Comment
05/28/09
David Nusair
David Nusair
Reel Film Reviews

Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian is that most rare of exhibits: a sequel that's actually better than the original.

Full Review Source: Aisle Seat | comment Comment
05/28/09
Mike McGranaghan
Mike McGranaghan
Aisle Seat

Atrociously dumb.

Full Review Source: Antagony & Ecstasy | comment 1 Comment
05/28/09
Tim Brayton
Tim Brayton
Antagony & Ecstasy

... a retread that retraces what was funny in the first film but isn't anymore since the surprise and delight of discovery is gone.

Full Review Source: Atlantic City Weekly | comment Comment
05/28/09
Lori Hoffman
Lori Hoffman
Atlantic City Weekly

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]

I was surprised by how funny and well-made the sequel is, especially for a "family film."

Full Review Source: MTV | comment Comment
05/27/09
Kurt Loder
Kurt Loder
MTV

The comedy is always lackluster, cumbersome and lacking a child's innocent playfulness.

Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews | comment Comment
05/27/09
Dennis Schwartz
Dennis Schwartz
Ozus' World Movie Reviews

This sequel's greatest claim to fame lies in turning its innocuously painless original into an overblown bore.

Full Review Source: Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC) | comment Comment
05/27/09
Ken Hanke
Ken Hanke
Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

It’s a collection of some of the most interesting figures throughout history and some of the most talented performers we have working today.

Full Review Source: At the Movies | comment Comment
05/26/09
Ben Lyons
Ben Lyons
At the Movies

This is a family comedy that will entertain the kids and amuse the grown-ups. It’s also a rare Hollywood sequel that’s better than the original.

Full Review Source: At the Movies | comment Comment
05/26/09
Ben Mankiewicz
Ben Mankiewicz
At the Movies

Stiller helps bring a new group of characters to life and they in turn bring this franchise to life again. Adams and Azaria shine.

Full Review Source: jackiekcooper.com | comment Comment
05/25/09
Jackie K. Cooper
Jackie K. Cooper
jackiekcooper.com

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
 
 
21 - 40 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
Text View | |< << 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 >> >|
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