National Treasure: Book of Secrets

Disney Enterprises

Review in a Hurry:  Nicolas Cage is on the trail of another big stash, led by clues steeped in wild conspiracies and U.S. history, in a near-exact replica of National Treasure numero uno. Hey, if it ain't broke, don't fix it, right? Though adding Dame Helen Mirren to the mix to sparkle up this sequel sure doesn't hurt.

The Bigger Picture:  National Treasure is back, and this time it has, um, a subtitle! The Book of Secrets in question is a hush-hush read that's passed down from president to president, for their eyes only, and it's one of many clues leading treasure hunter Ben Gates (Cage) to another billion-dollar bonanza.

His goal is to clear his family's tarnished name, after a snippet of John Wilkes Booth's diary shows up naming his great-granddad as a coconspirator to kill Abraham Lincoln. Locating the treasure the conspirators were after (inexplicably, they were also concocting a plan to find some loot—as if they didn't have enough on their plate) will resolve the accusations once and for all.

While the subject matter is slightly different in National Treasure number two, the formula is familiar: Gates and company sniff out clues, dodge bad guys and the law, and crack wise whenever possible. It's a recipe that works, combining historical trivia, earnest patriotism and a valid attempt at witty repartee. This action hero's objective is "Hey, let's uncover another wonderful piece of American history!" Aw, shucks! Isn't that refreshing, compared to the endless crashes, explosions and kung-fu battles that litter so many action flicks?

The original cast must have thought so, because they're back for more, too: Diane Kruger as Gates' now ex-girlfriend Abigail Chase, Justin Bartha as smart-aleck techno-geek Riley, and Jon Voight doddering around as Daddy Gates. The lovely Mirren, as Ben's mother, rounds out an energetic group that will stop at nothing as long as there's gold in them thar hills. When you can tell the cast is having fun, it's kind of hard not to yourself.

The 180—a Second Opinion:  One implausible situation after another could ruin the movie for sensible sticklers, most notably villain Ed Harris' far from subtle attempts to stop Gates' search ("Let's start a car chase in the middle of London. No one will ever notice!") and a major lack of alarm systems that actually, oh, work.