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After finding the Templar Treasure in the first National Treasure, life has had its ups and downs for treasure hunter Ben Gates (Nicolas Cage) and his crew. Ben and his girlfriend, Abigail (Diane Kruger), have split up, and Ben’s living with his dad, Patrick (Jon Voight). Ben’s friend/sidekick, Riley (Justin Bartha), has published a book about treasures and conspiracies—but he’s still seen as Ben’s sidekick. They’ve all moved on with their lives—until Mitch Wilkinson (Ed Harris) comes forward with a long-lost page from John Wilkes Booth’s diary, claiming that Ben’s ancestor was a co-conspirator in the assassination of President Lincoln.
Gates family history says that Thomas Gates (Joel Gretsch) was approached by Wilkes and his associates, who asked him to decode some sort of treasure map. Upon realizing who they were, he threw the pages into the fire in an attempt to keep the men from finding the treasure—an act that led to his death. So when Wilkinson accuses Thomas Gates of planning the conspiracy, Ben sets out to find the treasure—and clear his ancestor’s name. To do that, he’ll need a little help from his family—and his old friends.
National Treasure: Book of Secrets is everything it’s supposed to be. It’s big and bold. It’s thrilling and adventurous. And it’s just plain fun to watch. Though there are a few subplots woven into the story—especially the relationships between Ben and Abigail and Patrick and ex-wife Emily (Helen Mirren)—most of the chatty side stuff is kept to a minimum. What’s left is a lot of action-packed fun, as Ben, Riley, and Abigail attempt to break into the Queen’s sitting room and the Oval Office—and as they search for the fabled Presidents’ Book of Secrets.
Of course, in watching National Treasure, you need to enjoy it for what it is: a great popcorn flick. There’s nothing especially brilliant about it. There are a few nagging plot holes, and everything works together just a little too conveniently. The whole thing is pretty predictable, too—not to mention improbable. But watching it is like riding a roller coaster: you know how it’s going to end, but all the ups and downs and twists and turns are a lot of fun anyway.
When it comes to the cast, Cage is every bit as crazy and over-the-top as ever—but that’s exactly why I like him. He’s wildly entertaining, and he’s perfect for the role of the risk-taking treasure hunter. In fact, if you ask me, one would need to be just a little bit crazy and over-the-top to be a professional treasure hunter—so he fits perfectly. Bartha once again shakes things up with a little comic relief of his own. And while I remember thinking his character was a little overdone in the first movie, he’s toned down a bit this time. He’s still funny—but not to the point that it’s distracting. Although Harris makes a rather dull villain, Mirren makes a great addition to the cast—bringing both a little class and a little more spunk to the movie.
National Treasure: Book of Secrets won’t end up on this year’s list of Oscar nominees, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth seeing. It’s an edge-of-your-seat adventure that the whole family can enjoy. Just add popcorn.
DVD Review:
You don’t have to be a film scholar to see that whole lot of people put a whole lot of blood, sweat, and tears into this over-the-top roller coaster ride of a family action flick. And with the two-disc Collector’s Edition of National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets, you can enjoy the adventure in your own home and learn about some movie-magic tricks, too.
The first disc in the set offers an audio commentary with enthusiastic director Turteltaub and actor Jon Voight, who finds all of Turteltaub’s historical and movie-making tidbits to be absolutely fascinating. The bulk of the extras, however, are found on the second disc. Here’s where you need the Disney DVD Map—because there’s a lot to explore, including deleted scenes, bloopers, and a treasure chest of featurettes. You’ll travel to the movie’s locations, watch the filming of the London car chase, and learn about the sets and the effects and the historical background. Though I would have liked to see more historical stuff (and maybe some games or other treasure-hunting extras), the other features are all pretty interesting—especially the look inside the Library of Congress (no, I’m not kidding).
If you don’t really care about the how of movie-making—and you just want to watch the movie—the single-disc DVD will be sufficient. But National Treasure fans and special feature buffs will find plenty to peruse on the second disc.
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