Movie Review: NATIONAL TREASURE — BOOK OF SECRETS

The key here is not walking in the theater with expectations that you will leave as an expert on little-known points in American history or archaeology. You’re not Indiana Jones and probably never will be. Just watch the movie.

This is a film that didn’t open to critical acclaim, but it wasn’t supposed to. This is not an award contender by any stretch, but that’s OK. Sometimes it’s fine to go to a movie just to have a good time.

You know what? I enjoyed “Book of Secrets.” It was a fun flick.

I don’t think it was pointless to cast folks like Nicolas Cage, Diane Kruger, and Justin Bartha with Academy Award®-nominees Ed Harris and Harvey Keitel or Academy Award ®-winners Helen Mirren and Jon Voight.

Basically, this sequel has treasure hunter Ben Gates (Nicolas Cage) out to set the record straight and clear his great-great grandfather who is accused as one of John Wilkes Booth’s conspirators in Abraham Lincoln’s assassination. Trotting around the globe following a series of clues, Cage reignites the chemistry with his on-the-rocks girlfriend Abigail Chase (Kruger) and his wanna-be-famous assistant Riley Poole (Bartha).

All the while, bad guy Mitch Wilkinson (Harris) and Ben’s parents (Mirren and Voight) add to the character interaction, action, and comedy.

It’s a good movie. Go see it, and let yourself have fun.

– Alan Wofford