The Mummy Returns (2001) 2 stars out of 4. Starring Brendan Fraser, Rachel Weisz, John Hannah, Arnold Vosloo, Freddie Boath, The Rock, Oded Fehr, Patricia Velasquez and Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje. Music by Alan Silvestri. Written and directed by Stephen Sommers. PG-13.
The Mummy Returns is like the desperate comedian who machine guns joke after joke because he needs his fix of laughter like a junkie needs his fix of heroin.
This express train-paced sequel to the hit of a couple of years ago piles thrill upon thrill and special effect upon special effect until the audience nearly overdoses. As the final reel unspools you want to stand up and shout, ìEnough already!î
The Mummy Returns, at about two and 10 minutes, is relentless, never giving the viewer a chance to catch a breath.
Set in 1933, this sequel reunites all the main characters from the original: soldier of fortune Rick OíConnell (Brendan Fraser), the brainy Egyptologist Evelyn (Rachel Weisz), now Mrs. OíConnell, her neíer-do-well brother, Jonathan (John Hannah) and the evil high priest mummy Imhotep (Arnold Vosloo).
The movieís plot is a bit complicated, dealing with several Egyptian relics that, in the wrong hands, will unleash the forces of darkness upon the world. Donít they always.
Added to the mix is popular wrestling figure The Rock as The Scorpion King, an evil warrior who has promised his soul to the dread god Anubis in exchange for military might.
Well, old Anubis took The Scorpion King and put him in charge of his army of darkness.
But now itís the Year of the Scorpion, and guess who is planning on making a comeback.
One interesting note about the feature: The Rock has been played up very prominently is publicity about the film, yet his appearance is rather brief and he barely utters a line. This is something like bait-and-switch, so for those going to see this mainly for The Rock, be warned.
Another new character ó and the one who nearly steals the film ó is Rick and Evelynís brainy 8-year-old son, Alex (Freddie Boath). Heís a precocious little chap, who could have been rather obnoxious. But director Stephen Sommers, who also wrote the script, takes such a tongue-in-cheek attitude to the entire affair that you donít mind the kidís wisecracks.
The Mummy Returns is a fast-food movie; you view it, are entertained and leave. It has no lasting impression. Itís a quick stimulation. Nothing profound, nothing deep.
Just cheap excitement, lots of stunts, lots of special effects ó some of the computer generated images, though, are rather obvious ó and loads of action.
Is The Mummy Returns a good movie? No. But it does deliver what the audience for this type of outing wants ó a mindless rush that allows you to put your brain in neutral for about 130 minutes.
You donít critique performances in a movie like this because they are secondary. Anyone could have played these roles and it wonít have made an iota of difference.
The Mummy Returns is the clarion call for the summer movie season; that time of year when movies are long, loud and simplistic to a fault.
So buckle up, summer is on the horizon and The Mummy Returns has just jump-started the cinematic tour bus.
Bob Bloom is the film critic at the Journal and Courier in Lafayette, IN. He can be reached by e-mail at bloom@journal-courier.com or at bobbloom@iquest.net. Other reviews by Bloom can be found at www.jconline.com by clicking on golafayette. Bloom's reviews also can be found on the Web at the Internet Movie Database site: http://www.imdb.com/M/reviews_by?Bob+Bloom
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