National Treasure 2 - B-

Look at this poster. Just LOOK at it and tell me you aren’t laughing. The second installment of director Jon Turtletaub’s epic adventure is National Treasure: Book of Secrets. My man NICK CAGE returns to the screen in what is an amazingly ludicrous yet entertaining plot of twists and turns. To explain the plot would be a 1000 words unto itself so we’ll just speak vaguely.

Nick Cage is the man. If this review is slanted in anyway you should know he’s my favorite comedic actor (I recognize his ability to do the dramatic as well, but he really makes me laugh) and I think he can do no wrong. The last movie I saw him in was Next, a summer movie with a similarly crazy plot and even more Nick Cage madness. I’m not kidding when I call Cage mad. For one portion of the film (Buckingham Palace) I think Jon Turtletaub turned to Nick and said, “Nick, I need you to be yourself, just throw in a bunch of non sequiturs and erupt into a nursery rhyme at some point.” I laughed so hard I had to control myself before I missed the next laugh.

The cast is just as ridiculous as the storyline. Ed Harris lends his History of Violence evil man to the film. He’s just a plot device, not really a character. Hellen Mirren is much of the same. I remember seeing previews for this movie way back in the beginning of the year, and remembering that she just won Best Actress… She plays a University of Maryland ancient cultures professor. I noticed that on her wall of degrees sat my very own George Washington degree (anticipated arrival in May 2008). It was proudly displayed directly OVER the University of Maryland degree which made me happy (Take that Terps).

Unfortunately I wasn’t aware of when this film was being shot here in DC.  I would have been there with a huge Nick Cage RULES! poster. His movies are getting more and more ludicrous, though I’m not sure anything can top The Wicker Man.

Jon Voight is the man. He’s almost as cracked out as Nick Cage and looks lost most of the time. He really might be actually. His agent probably told him they were filming Midnight Cowboy 2 and Dustin Hoffman was behind every other door.

For fans of the first National Treasure you should expect a lot of the same. Justin Bartha is just as funny in this as he was in the first (the funny side kick guy). Diane Kruger is also just as attractive. My main beef with the movie is that it was 1 too long. 2, it’s plot became more and more distracting from the amazingness of Nick Cage. Let the actors act and give us action. The hold up with technicalities and story is a necessary evil, but it doesn’t mean I have to like it.

Overall? Probably skip it if you aren’t a devout Nick Cage fan.