Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (2009)

The first one, Night at the Museum (2006), moved right along, and I expected to like this one a lot. I counted 17 of the actors reprising their parts. But...if you only go to one movie a month, pick something else. It ground to a screeching halt whenever protagonist Ben Stiller (who has made a career out of awkward, narcissistic characters--do rent Flirting with Disaster and Your Friends and Neighbors (both 1996)) had the floor. I know Michael, who wouldn't go with me to Tropic Thunder, won't be surprised by my reaction. I usually like Ricky Gervais (creator of the original TV show The Office for BBC, and good on HBO's Extras as well as his comedy special from 2008), but his petulant Dr. McPhee didn't do much for me. Owen Wilson's (I particularly liked The Darjeeling Limited (2007), The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004), and The Royal Tenenbaums (2001), all directed by Wes Anderson, and Wilson co-wrote the latter, which also starred Stiller) talent was not utilized in this, nor was Christopher Guest's (director, writer, and actor in For Your Consideration (2006), A Mighty Wind (2003), Best in Show (2000), and Waiting for Guffman (1996), as well playing Nigel Tufnel in This is Spinal Tap in 1984, among other credits), and Bill Hader (SNL 2005-09, Adventureland, Tropic Thunder, Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008), Superbad (2007), Knocked Up (2007)) as General Custer was almost as annoying as Stiller. Ironic that Wilson was uncredited in the first movie, where he had a lot more to do, and billed too high for his level of involvement in this one. Jonah Hill (Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Knocked Up, Evan Almighty, and co-star of Superbad) was confident enough of his "intent to touch" scene that he was uncredited here. He was right, it was funny the first time. However most of us saw the scene repeatedly in the trailer. But Amy Adams (nobody noticed her in the fun Catch Me If You Can (2002), but she was nominated for an Oscar for Junebug (2005) and Doubt, and I enjoyed her in Sunshine Cleaning and Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day, both 2008) was endearing in her Katherine Hepburn-esque turn as Amelia Earhart, and we liked the parts shot in the National Air & Space Museum. Hank Azaria (have I mentioned how much I liked his cancelled Showtime series Huff? Yes I have. He was amusingly arrogant in Run Fatboy Run (2007) and does a great job voicing many characters on The Simpsons, 431 episodes to date) also lit up the screen as Kamunrah and Abe Lincoln (The Thinker bits...forgettable). The singing cherubs (yawn from me, but I'm sure the kids will love that part) were voiced by the Jonas Brothers, and Albert Einstein was good shtick by Eugene Levy (Levy co-wrote and acted in all the Guest movies above). In addition to the flying sequences there were quite a few good special effects gags. If you have to take your kids you will probably find something to enjoy.