I don’t normally walk out of a movie theater due to a film being so terrible because I can typically find something positive and worth watching in most movies. I am a positive guy and can really appreciate the movie-making process to the point of never really hating a movie. This movie absolutely PUSHED the limits of my positivity.
Seriously, there was nothing good about this film. Now, I don’t often say that about any film or use those kinds of descriptive words…but really folks, this movie isn’t worth anything. I saw this movie with my wife and another couple and if it wasn’t for our dear friendship with this couple, I would have wholeheartedly objected to even considering seeing this movie. The story was laughable, the characters were boring, the CGI was silly, and the whole concept was just pathetic.
It should have been a HUGE warning sign to Brendan Fraser and the rest of the cast when Rachel Weisz decided not to reprise her role after reading the script. Yeah, I agree with her. I can imagine her reading the script and laughing while she threw it in the trash can. The characters were so cliche and boring, and at times, you could visibly see the uncomfortable-ness in Brendan as he tried to resurrect a character that wasn’t great enough to begin with and try and feign some chemistry with an actress not even half the caliber as Weisz. By the way, isn’t about time for Brendan to try and step out of the “family friendly” roles for a bit? He plays basically the same guy in every movie, and all with the same haircut. I’m just saying.
Maria Bello stepped in to replace Rachel and performed just as expected, forgettable and cheap. There was nothing about her role that was unique, she was a half-as-talented blond version of Weisz with a bad British accent. The directors even tried to throw in a little joke at the beginning about her character “becoming a completely new person” as to try and get us to laugh and forget that we’re supposed to believe that THIS IS THE SAME PERSON!
Even the CGI, which has always been pretty cool in the Mummy world, was over the top. They “wow’ed” us with the “sand-time” and “peeling-away-flesh-and-particles” effects in the first Mummy and tried to keep it going in the 2nd, but in this movie, it just feels old and tried. We get it, you’ve perfected the art of blowing sand and eroding particles…what else do you have? Is that it?
The only highlight for me throughout the entire film was John Hannah. Once again he reprises his role as the comic-relief brother-in-law Jonathan, who always manages to bring the audience back to earth with his witty one-liners, all the while making fun of himself and the movie…it’s very subtle. Without him in this movie, I might have walked out. He doesn’t save the movie or even make it for me, he just kept me in my seat and saved me $9 of waste.
Before you rip me a new one, let me tell you that I did like the original Mummy. I thought the action was great, the “sand-time” CGI was new and cool looking (the first time it was cool, not the 132nd time the producers used it), the chemistry between Fraser and Weisz was spot-on, and the story, although out of this world, was entertaining. To me, this movie was a cash-cow-cop-out. It was nothing more than a summer sequel to a franchise that was over after it started. Don’t waste your time or your money.
Content Warning: Rated PG-13 for adventure action and violence. There are a lot of pointless battle scenes involving dead creatures, so no real blood.
Popularity: 62%
Not surprised…depressing really, I liked the first two, but they shouldn’t have made this one. I don’t need to see it to know that.
Technically, this movie does not have amazing cinematic qualities or a solid solid. However, on a pure entertainment factor, I’d give it a high score. Honestly, if you’re looking for Oscar gold while watching this movie, then you have been clearly misinformed about the series. It’s about fun, thrills and a little bit of using your imagination. A perfect way to waste a few hours on a lazy evening.
We actually thought for a moment to see this one but even the previews didn’t look that good to me. As you say, Brendan needs to step out of rut he is getting stuck in. I think he was pretty good in Crash and it was a character that was not a typical role for him. We might rent this movie once its out on video but thats about it.
Jay, even for the entertainment value, I didn’t find it there. There are a lot of movies that just entertain me beyond any Oscar expectations, but this movie was so much NOT a good movie that it ruined any purely entertaining value for me.
I can find a lot of cheaper ways to waste a lazy evening…