The Mummy Returns
with the Curse of the Sequels

Sequels don't always suck, but they are often disappointing. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom didn't live up to Raiders of the Lost Ark. The Lost World didn't come close to matching Jurassic Park. Sadly, The Mummy Returns follows the formulaic pattern of the summer sequel, repeating the look of the original without capturing its spirit.

In all fairness, The Mummy Returns is not a bad movie. In fact, I'd say that it was at least as entertaining - if not moreso - than all of the summer offerings from last year. Nevertheless, this is a movie that should have been great, even better than the original.

The story picks up nearly a decade after The Mummy to find Rick (Brendan Fraser) and Evie (Rachel Weisz) O'Connell continuing their archeological adventures as husband and wife. Tagging along on their journeys is their son, Alex (Freddie Boath). Not unexpectedly, Evie's discovery of an ancient bracelet unleashes a new threat: the emminent arrival of the Scorpion King (played by WWF sensation, The Rock) who brings with him the horrible Army of Anubis.

It doesn't take an archeologist to see the thin layer of dust separating this sequel from its predecessor. Some of the sight gags from the first movie are replayed, as are several humorous references - although these are forgiveable in-jokes. What doesn't work, however, is the movie's almost complete reliance on the original story to carry this one. Bringing Arnold Vosloo back as the Mummy may have seemed natural, but it means more of the same. Can you imagine if Tim Burton had brought back the Joker in the Batman sequel? No, it just can't be done, regardless of the title. Fraser still gets top billing, so why not Curse of the Scorpion King instead?

Fraser does a fine job as Rick O'Connell, but he plays him much more serious than in the original. The few jokes early on are dry and witty, although later replaced by a clenched jaw and stoic determination. The best laughs in the movie come from Boath, a typical kid who smarts off in every circumstance but also shows true affection for his parents. He's wonderfully annoying to the bad guys, while remaining a strong character at all times.

Looking back, I can see where the film jumped off track. Whether the director's vision or the script lost steam, I can't say for certain, but there is a point about halfway through the movie where the roller coaster ride takes over and replaces anything resembling a plot. Not that the original Mummy was a treatise on the human condition. Far from it. But The Mummy Returns would have benefitted from more dialogue and attention to detail rather than mountains of special effects.

Some of the special effects, while impressive in scope, were poorly executed. In particular, the Scorpion King's appearance at the end of the film is attrocious. The director could have made a more impressive ending if The Rock had been allowed to face off with Fraser in a no-holds-barred cage match. Instead, the effects take over the story, forcing the audience to gorge itself on eye-candy while wondering what happened to a reasonably interesting story.

MY RATING: 7 out of 10.

RATED: PG-13
RUN TIME: 121 min.