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Night At The Museum: Secret Of The Tomb review

We review Night At The Museum: Secret Of The Tomb - The third and final Night At The Museum movie transplants the action to London’s British Museum

Night At The Museum: Secret Of The Tomb poster

Night At The Museum: Secret Of The Tomb

Certificate: PG

Starring: Ben Stiller, Robin Williams, Owen Wilson, Steve Coogan, Dan Stevens

Release date: 2014

3 out of 5

3

The third and final Night At The Museum movie transplants the action to London’s British Museum but the idea remains the same – a magic tablet causes the exhibits to come to life at night and it is up to night security guard Larry (Stiller) to keep some semblance of order about the place.

This time that proves more complicated, as the exhibits, including a lifesize model of Teddy Roosevelt (Williams), mini figurines Jedediah (Wilson) and Octavius (Coogan), plus Dexter the (usually) stuffed monkey, start to act strangely and Larry discovers that the tablet is losing its magic. The only one that can help is Merenkahre (Ben Kingsley), an Egyptian exhibit at the British Museum, so Larry heads over there with his now-teenage son and discovers that our favourite waxworks have come along for the ride.

With Downton Abbey’s Dan Stevens added to the cast as a hilarious Sir Lancelot, this is a fun, if thin-on-plot adventure, with nice performances and special effects. Australian actress Rebel Wilson pops up as a British security guard who falls for caveman Laaa (also played by Stiller), while the retired security guards from the first movie (Dick Van Dyke, showing he has still got the moves, along with Mickey Rooney and Bill Cobbs) are great to see in a brief scene.

Of course, for adults this film is tinged with poignancy, as not only was it the last film for Rooney but also for the late, great and greatly missed Robin Williams. While kids are chortling at the jokes (with a few of them involving a peeing monkey, the gags are aimed at younger viewers), grown-ups will get a lump in their throats as Larry says goodbye to Teddy and we say goodbye to the funniest actor of a generation.

Is Night At The Museum: Secret Of The Tomb suitable for kids? Here are our parents’ notes...

None.

If you like this, why not try: Night At The Museum, Small Soldiers, Jumanji, Flubber, Toy Story,