Review: ‘Night At The Museum 2’ fails to tickle your funny bone!

For all those who remember ‘Night At The Museum’ (2006), its sequel ‘Night At The Museum 2’ is no match to its predecessor in terms of rib-tickling comedy!

Spicezee Bureau

Mumbai: For all those who remember ‘Night At The Museum’ (2006), where Larey Daley (Ben Stiller) entices you with his comic antics, its sequel ‘Night At The Museum 2’ is no match to its predecessor in terms of rib-tickling comedy! Director Shawn Levy tried hard to recreate the magic of ‘Night At The Museum’ but it seems the old formula did not work. Though the latest flick moves ahead in terms of storyline and plot, yet its comparison with the original ‘Night At The Museum’ is inevitable. In ‘Night At The Museum 2’, funnyman Ben Stiller is no longer a night watchman at the New York Museum but a successful businessman who sells his wares on television infomercials. Larey is unhappy as he is disenchanted with his fortunes sans happiness. However, when Larey comes to know that many of his friends are being packed away to Washington DC, once again our hero dons the night watchman garb and enters the Smithsonian Institute – a big facility that boasts of nine research centers and nineteen museums. Larey’s new mission is to stop the villain from accessing the Egyptian tablet and bring life to the exhibits. Yet, the magic tablet, which brings life to good and evil elements in the museum, stealthily finds its way in the museum, courtesy the impish monkey. Larey’s troubles do not end here as he finds - a huge Abraham Lincoln statue, Thedore Roosevelt, Rodin, Amelia Earheart, Ivan the Terrible, The Thinker and Napolean Bonaparte - all come to life. With Kahmunrah (Hank Azaria) planning to conquer the Earth, Ivan the Terrible (Christopher Guest), Napoleon Bonaparte (Alain Chabat) and Al Capone (Jon Bernthal) come together to save the day while Jedediah Smith (Owen Wilson) who asks Larey to fight the ‘bad guys’ at the Smithsonian. Armed with nothing but a flashlight, Larey enters the Smithsonian Institute to save his friends by taking the tablet and the status back to the museum. Well, in terms of comedy, ‘Night At The Museum 2’ tries aplenty of gags with Stiller, Wilson, Williams and Azaria. Yet the quartet fails to produce belly laugh. Scenes where cupids follow Stiller and Adams, Einstein and Lincoln coming to life are fun to watch. On the whole, ‘Night At The Museum 2’ is an immature comedy, which is in the dire need of a perfect script and lots of gags. Anyways, a decent watch to unwind with your family and friends! Ratings: Two cheers for this one!