WHAT TM & 2009 FOX SAYS:
Night has fallen upon the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC. The guides have gone home, the lights are out, the school kids are tucked in their beds...yet something incredible is stirring as former night guard Larry Daley finds himself lured into his biggest, most imagination-boggling adventure yet in which history truly comes alive. In this second installment of the Night at the Museum saga, Larry faces a battle so epic it could only unfold in the corridors of the world's largest museum. Now, Larry must try to save his formerly inanimate friends from what could be their last stand amid the wonders of the Smithsonian, all of which, from the famous paintings on the walls to the rocket ships in the halls, suddenly have a mind of their own.
The first film ever shot in the Smithsonian complex, the fun begins as Larry has left behind the low-paying world of guarding museums to become a sought-after inventor of Daley Devices infomercial products. He seems to have it all - but something is missing in his life, something that draws him back to his old haunt, the Museum of Natural History, where he once had the magical night of a lifetime. There, he makes an unsettling discovery. His favorite exhibits, indeed some of his truest friends, have been deemed out-of-date. Packed into crates, they await shipment to the vast archives of the Smithsonian.
Their fate is unknown - that is, until Larry receives a distress call from the miniature cowboy Jedediah, who informs him of an impending disaster. It seems the newcomers have awoken their new digs, including the Egyptian ruler, Kahmunrah, who's in a particularly nasty mood after 3,000 years of slumber. Now, he and a trio of history's most heinous henchmen - namely Ivan the Terrible, Napoleon Bonaparte and Al Capone - are plotting to take over the museum, as they unleash the Army of the Underworld.
Speeding to the nation's capital, Larry is clearly in over his head. But he's got some impressive new friends - from the brilliant Albert Einstein to honest Abe Lincoln to the one exhibit who takes his breath away - the irrepressible Amelia Earhart, who spurs Larry to rediscover his missing his sense of fun and adventure. Along with his old buddies, including Teddy Roosevelt, Octavius, Sacajawea, Attilla The Hun and the neanderthals - larry will sopt at nothing to regain his friends and restore order to the National mall, from the Lincoln Memorial to the Air and Space Museum, before the stroke of dawn.
OUR REVIEW:
The idea of bringing history to life in the way Night At The Museum: Battle of The Smithsonian does is a great way to connect kids to some great figures from the past. Even the smallest appearance of characters like Abraham Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, Napoleon Bonaparte and Albert Einstein will have kids interested in the past more than ever. The movie also has a strong, positive message about being true to yourself and living life doing what makes you happy and not just what makes you rich and successful.
Adventure is the underlying theme with even the villains being likeable. Some of the battle scenes may be scary for younger children, but most are very light and no one is seriously hurt, although the Kahmunrah frequently talks of killing Larry and his friends. Several sexual innuendoes are used (just got to second-base), and parents might want to be ready to answer questions for kids who are paying attention. Language is moderate, with the use of "dammit" and "suck" as well as name calling.
Overall, the movie is very cute for kids 10 and older.
