'Mummy' comes off too self-aware, comedy falls flat

Review :Sequel does previous films diservice

By: Steven Kilpatrick

Posted: 8/7/08

When I left the theater after seeing "Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor," starring Brendan Fraser and Jet Li, I wasn't sure what had just happened to me.

All I can say for sure is that Li came back from the dead and killed his career in the process.

This film is much like the other "Mummy" films. The O'Connell family has a hand in unleashing an ancient mummy hell bent on revenge. However, in a tiny twist, this time we get a brand new mummy in the form of a Chinese emperor played by Jet Li, at least when he's not being played by flimsy CGI. The story also has a pretty overbearing family element involving the predictably rebellious O'Connell son, Alex (Luke Ford). The rest is pretty standard, right down to an emperor being upset with someone touching his woman.

Oh and I saw some abominable snowmen.

The film was like an infomercial for fun, no matter how much it tries to sell you on the "and that's not all" portion of the pitch, you probably aren't buying it. Self-respect has us wondering why we're still watching infomercials at all- maybe the remote is too far away? Maybe the metaphor is too obscure?

What happened to writers Alfred Gough and Miles Millar? Was this a race to undermine the credibility they built with Smallville and "Spider-Man 2"? I really hope it has something to do with an ancient curse, or at the very least earns them one.

It shouldn't be a surprise. Like the hapless O'Connell family, Gough and Millar have penned unnecessary sequels before (see Lethal Weapon 4 and Shanghai Knights). Still, the awkward scripting and dialogue in this movie defied my lowest expectations. You have to work really hard to write this badly.

The one person who maintained credibility in this whole mess was Rachel Weisz, and she did it by staying away. Instead, Evelyn O'Connell is played this time around by Maria Bello. The writers felt the need to address Weisz's absence in the movie with a joke. Like much of the film, it falls flat (such meta-fiction is rarely resonant).

Before the movie arrived, people joked that Weisz felt above the "Mummy" series because of her recent Oscar win. Believe me when I tell you that even Brendan Fraser is above the franchise at this point.

It's not that the remaining actors failed to bring something to the production. They were active, energetic and, theoretically, capable. But their performances often had the same vibe you get from stage actors who know they're bombing, and nothing felt sincere, least of all the moments that were supposed to.

The jokes were an abridged rehash of the first two films. In case you couldn't tell, Jonathan (John Hanna) is a crazy scamp, with very little of the capable aplomb of the first film remaining. Oh, and 2,000-year-old soldiers are still capable of immature puppy love and getting their butts kicked by people in their twenties.

In terms of legacy, this film-can I call it a film?-this rehashed, detached conglomerate of unrealized nostalgia does nothing for the legacy of the "Mummy" series. I watched them last week in preparation; I promise you the first two are better.

At best, this movie is a decent pun. Even if it is a little clever, you'll shake your head and groan.