In Relation To National Treasure: Book of Secrets

It's been awhile since Ben Gates (Nicolas Cage) and his friends and family discovered the famous Knights Templar treasure. Things aren't going so well anymore. Riley Poole (Justin Bartha) has the IRS hounding him, and Ben is living with his father after getting kicked out by his now-ex-girlfriend Abigail Chase (Diane Kruger). Then suddenly, a man named Mitch Wilkinson (Ed Harris) comes forward with a piece of paper he claims proves that Ben's great-great-grandfather was a traitor who plotted to kill president Abraham Lincoln. Ben, his father, and their friends know that isn't true. The great-great-grandfather was killed by men plotting to assassinate Lincoln and discover a fabulous city of gold in order to help the Confederate cause. The only way the Gateses can prove their ancestor's innocence is by finding the city themselves using the clues left behind on that damning piece of paper.

This is a light-hearted, lightweight movie that's enjoyable enough with a big bowl of popcorn and a cozy blanket on a winter's night. It's better still with some friends who don't mind talking and laughing about a movie through the whole thing. As far as serious movie-watching goes, National Treasure: Book of Secrets can't stand on its own two feet.

There are significant holes in the plot line, including the idea that Ben and his father can clear their ancestor's name by proving the existence of a city of gold. I see almost no correlation between the two things. That's plot hole number one. There are a whole lot more secondary plot line holes throughout the movie, coupled with completely unbelievable things like Abigail and Ben breaking into Buckingham Palace and stealing something out of a hidden compartment in Queen Elizabeth II's desk. Even if the queen wasn't at Buckingham Palace at the time, the idea that someone could break into the palace that easily is absurd.

But if one can overlook the improbability (and occasional impossibility) of a lot of things, National Treasure: Book of Secrets can be very enjoyable. Ben's estranged mother Emily (Helen Mirren) was a welcome addition to the group, and the humor was simultaneously ramped up and cleaned up from the first movie's standards. Nicolas Cage is not a very good actor, but he's a good comedian, and the best two lines in the movie belong to him. Riley's character isn't quite as weird as he was in the first movie, getting a little smarter and even more likable.

Finally, even though most of the characters were enjoyable, Wilkinson was extremely dull and uninteresting compared to Ian Howe (Sean Bean) from the previous movie. Of course, Sean Bean is an exceptional actor, but I think he enjoyed far more interesting lines than Ed Harris did. Wilkinson simply had virtually no character. He was shallow, with the lamest motivation I have ever heard. Most men who want their names to go down in history are nuts and end up shooting someone or blowing up a building. Though I must say I like Wilkinson's end far more than Howe's.

My Rating: OK (some crude humor, mild violence)

Picture from impawards.com