The Mummy Returns
Universal, 2001
Directed by Stephen Sommers

$$$

Two years ago this critic wrote that The Mummy was decent enough entertainment to hold us over until the next Indiana Jones film. Well, we're still waiting for Indy 4, but The Mummy has returned.

Like the original, the sequel is enjoyable B-movie fun with no artistic pretense whatsoever. And, like most sequels, this second installment is bigger, louder, has more special effects, and is not as good as the first one. But, don't get me wrong -- there have been worse follow-ups.

The Mummy Returns is helped by the fact that the entire cast, as well as writer/director Stephen Sommers are back for the second go-around. This means audiences can expect strong continuity in terms of the film's look and the tongue-and-cheek tone, but it also means that there is literally no character development whatsoever. This movie leaps right into the action as if the first movie never ended, and just keeps going. In fact, the film doesn't even pause for opening credits of any kind -- the movie's title doesn't flash on screen until long after the final scene has faded to black.

When we meet up with our heroes again, it's 1933 (eight years after the first film). Adventurer Rick O'Connell and librarian/amateur archaeologist, Evie, are now married with a son, Alex (I know what you're thinking -- the old add-a-cute-kid routine, but the character is actually not as annoying as you'd expect). Events unfold fast and furious and before you know it, Rick and Evie are back fighting the undead. Early on, some not so nice people (for a reason that's still not quite clear to me) go to great lengths to once again awaken the mummified remains of Im-Ho-Tep (Arnold Vosloo). Those who haven't seen the last film will probably be pretty lost when it comes to this part, but if they just sit back and enjoy the action scenes, they'll be fine. And they won't have to wait long for the action to get going. That's because it never stops. The relentless film only pauses briefly here and there to let you catch your breath before diving into another big action set-piece. We go from a terrific sword fight inside the O'Connell's house, to a shoot-out in a London museum, to a chase sequence involving a double-decker bus, to... well, you get the idea.

The first movie was loaded with CGI effects and it looks like there's twice as many in the sequel. And the CGI, still looks like CGI, though one battle sequence here comes off looking better than a similar sequence in Star Wars: Episode I, a sign the technology is coming along. But the realism of the effects matters less than their ability to help tell the story and entertain and in that respect, they work just fine. The signature image of the last movie was a face forming in the center of a sandstorm. This time the face pops out again - this time from the curl of a tidal wave (following the old sequel rule: the same, but different). But the most enjoyable CGI creation for the sequel is an army of undead pygmy warriors. These vicious little suckers have personality.

When it comes to the flesh and blood actors, there are no complaints. Brendan Fraser does a nice job reprising his smart-aleck hero, Rick. Rachel Weisz, returning as Evie, gets to do more butt-kicking this time around.

The other big player returning is Sommers, who once again shows he has a good feel for action-adventure, staging one terrific cliff-hanging, nail-bitting close call after another.

The most notable addition to the line-up is WWF star, The Rock, who plays an ancient Egyptian bad-ass named, The Scorpion King. Fans hoping to see a lot of him will be sadly disappointed as his screen-time is extremely limited. But never fear, studio execs were so impressed by his cameo that a spinoff movie is currently in production.

But for all that's been added, The Mummy Returns still lacks the spontaneity of the original. This film falls into the Superman II category of sequels: same cast, more special effects, more action, more villains... but less heart. Nevertheless, if a fun adrenaline rush is all you're looking for, you should leave the theater smiling.
(c) Copyright 2001