Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Ben Stiller | ... | Larry Daley / Laaa | |
Robin Williams | ... | Teddy Roosevelt / Voice of Garuda | |
Owen Wilson | ... | Jedediah | |
Steve Coogan | ... | Octavius | |
Ricky Gervais | ... | Dr. McPhee | |
Dan Stevens | ... | Sir Lancelot | |
Rebel Wilson | ... | Tilly | |
Skyler Gisondo | ... | Nick Daley | |
Rami Malek | ... | Ahkmenrah | |
Patrick Gallagher | ... | Attila | |
Mizuo Peck | ... | Sacajawea | |
Ben Kingsley | ... | Merenkahre (Ahk's Father) | |
Crystal the Monkey | ... | Dexter | |
Dick Van Dyke | ... | Cecil | |
Mickey Rooney | ... | Gus |
At the Museum of Natural History, there's a new exhibit being unveiled. Larry Daley, who manages the night exhibit where the exhibits come to life because of the Tablet of Ahkmenrah, is in charge of the presentation. But when the exhibits go awry, Larry finds himself in trouble. He learns the Tablet is corroding so he does some research and learns that Cecil, the former museum guard, was at the site when the Tablet was discovered. He tells Larry they were warned if they remove it could mean the end. Larry realizes it means the end of the magic. He talks to Ahkmenrah who says that he doesn't know anything. Only his father the Pharaoh knows the Tablet's secrets. He learns that the Pharaoh was sent to the London museum. So he convinces Dr. McPhee, the museum curator, to help send him to London. He takes Ahkmenrah with him but some of the others tag along, like Teddy Roosevelt, Attila, Octavius, and Jedediah. Written by rcs0411@yahoo.com
In spite of the absence of a number in the title, this is the third (and last?) film in a franchise that I have thoroughly enjoyed for providing inventive entertainment (imagine a fight sequence inside a MC Escher drawing). Each movie has been based in a museum I know well and this time we are in my home city of London at the wonderful British Museum which means that the Elgin Marbles and other artifacts come alive. At the heart of the franchise is Ben Stiller, a comic actor with deceptively understated style, and this time he gets to plays two very contrasting roles, particularly funny when his characters interact.
If there are weaknesses in this outing, they are that perhaps too many of the original characters are involved (meaning that screen time is spread rather thinly between them), there could have been more original museum characters (the main one is Dan Stevens as Sir Lancelot), and it would have been good to have more female roles (Australian Rebel Wilson as the BM security guard is effectively the only substantive one). And, of course, there is the sadness of seeing Robin Williams and Mickey Rooney in their last screen roles.
All that said, this is a worthy addition to a really fun franchise which has probably now run its course.