I didn't mind the first Night at the Museum. Can't say I feel the same way about Battle of the Smithsonian, although in all its juvenile camp and disregard for an audience above the age of, say, 8, it's not too bad. High concept movies shamelessly spit in the face of anyone who might enjoy films in a passionate sense. Look no further than when Darth Vader offers his services to head bad guy Kahmunrah and is laughingly dismissed. Let alone seeing Vader side by side with Oscar the Grouch of all characters. So where does the movie go wrong? Well 80% of the time most of the original crew from the first film are in crates or imprisoned. Bill Hader spends 2 seconds of character development as General Custard before he gets locked up too, good God. Steve Coogan has the best returning role as Octavius and Ben Stiller, well, roles like this will be as good as they get for him and I think he's OK with that. So am I. Aside from Steve Coogan, the real treat to this film is seeing how much of a talent Hank Azaria is. There's a five minute back and forth between him and Ben Stiller that was so over the top childish I couldn't help but laugh. But don't watch the movie for that. If anything, Up is coming out next week and if what is coming out of Cannes means anything, Pixar is going 10 for 10, which is half the stars for what I can give for this sequel.
