KATHMANDU: By this time last year three movies had become record hits with Iron Man grossing $318 million quite unexpectedly, Indiana Jones bringing $317 million and The Dark Knight pulling $300 million. At the same time this year Wolverine, Star Trek, Angels & Demons, Terminator Salvation and The Night At The Museum sequel are not expected to cross the $300 million mark which leaves Transformers, Harry Porter’s latest and Avatar to try to come up to last year’s money making standards. And one doesn’t know why, this sort of thing happens.

In The Night At The Museum: Battle Of The Smithsonian, the follow-up to the 2006 smash hit Night at the Museum picks up shortly after the events of the first film, with one-time museum security guard Larry Daley (Ben Stiller) now living the life of a famous inventor. One night he decides to pay a visit to his old haunt, the Museum of Natural History, where he discovers that some of his favorite exhibits (and old, not-so-inanimate friends) have been labeled as “out of date” and are being shipped off to storage at the Smithsonian Institute archives. In no time, he gets a distress call from miniature cowboy Jedediah (Owen Wilson), who informs Larry (Ben Stiller) that a group of history’s most notorious evil personalities, including Ivan the Terrible(Christopher Guest), Napoleon Bonaparte (Alain Chabat)and Al Capone (John Bernthal), are hatching a conspiracy. Together with their ringleader, the 3000-year-old Egyptian pharaoh Kahmunrah (Hank Azaria), they plan to take over the Smithsonian and, after that, the world. Larry springs quickly into action, teaming up with Amelia Earhart and tries to save his old friends - and perhaps the planet - from the insidious invaders who’ve awakened from their slumber.

Robin Williams reprises his role as Teddy Roosevelt, Steve Coogan is Roman emperor Octavius, Patrick Gallagher is a Attila the Hun and best of all Amy Adams is a famed female flyer Earhart but according to Pete Hammond, “It is Hank Azaria who is a evil Roman pharaoh who acts as Kahmunrah with brilliant comic timing and an affected speech pattern that’s highly amusing. We even have Rodin’s sculpture of The Thinker played by Jonah Hill.”

Says Kevin Harley, “More isn’t always merrier in sequels. This time, Larry has to rescue his Natural History Museum exhibits-cum-pals from storage there, tussling with Egyptian ruler Kahmunrah, Ivan The Terrible and Napoleon amid sentient sculptures, living paintings and a boisterous squid en route.

Bill Hader’s General Custer and Amy Adams’ sharp-talkin’ Amelia Earhart join team Larry, so there’s plenty of ‘more’ to play with. But ‘more’ matters not a jot without a sharpening of plot and comedic weaponry. Some gags hit the spot, from Kahmunrah’s sensitivity over his dress (“Tunic!”) to some business involving Rodin’s The Thinker.

The brisk, one-night plot improves on its predecessor’s multi-night amble and Earhart’s jazz-age banter spruces up the dialogue. But ‘more’ also applies to the museumpiece jests and icky messages.

Gag-wise, Azaria’s fey tyrant is sub-Life Of Brian and the monkey-slapping is Night 1 recycled. Message-wise, Larry has found success between films. But more money hasn’t made him happy, so… Insert moral guff here. Larry’s life lesson is one the movie hasn’t learnt: Cool Stuff doesn’t make anyone happy or any film better.

With lots to cram in, Night 2 surrenders excitement-building narrative to ushering around exhibits, but a museum tour is no plot. Nor does the pacing give you time to enjoy the cast: Adams, Azaria and Guest are good but given short shrift.”