National Treasure: Book Of Secrets (2007)

3 out of 4

Starring: Nicolas Cage, Diane Kruger, Justin Bartha, Ed Harris, Jon Voigt, Harvey Keitel, Helen Mirren, Bruce Greenwood

Director: Jon Turteltaub

Time: 124 mins

Viewed: Regal Marlboro 8, New Jersey

Sequel to 2004's Da Vinci Code-inspired National Treasure has our protagonists, Ben Gates (Cage), father Patrick (Voigt), sidekick Riley (Bartha) and love interest Abigail (Kruger), reuniting to disprove a claim that Ben's great-grandfather was the mastermind of the Lincoln assassination. Following a cryptic set of clues, the search leads them to Paris, Buckingham Palace and even the White House, all the while tailed by rival Mitch Wilkinson (Harris) and FBI agent Sadusky (Keitel). An improvement on the original, with a breezy sense of fun, more varied (and global) locations, and more assured action sequences. Cage is as bland as he was in the first, but Bartha's humorous antics and quips remind you to not take this too seriously. With recent Oscar-winner Mirren joining the ride and adding some feisty bite as a language professor, this follow-up is an entertaining two hours, as long as you go in knowing what to expect.

(c) Joe Wong (26 December 2007)