National Treasure: Book of Secrets
Sequel to National Treasure with Ben Gates hunting clues to clear his ancestor's name
The brief
Nicolas Cage returns to his treasure hunting antics with the same manic energy that made the first film surprisingly entertaining, but this sequel feels like it's going through the motions with diminishing returns. The presidential kidnapping subplot pushes the absurdity to new heights while Ed Harris chews scenery as a serviceable villain, though the whole thing runs about 20 minutes too long for what amounts to a glossy history channel adventure. The puzzle solving remains fun in a Saturday afternoon sort of way, but the magic feels more manufactured this time around. Perfect if you loved the first National Treasure and just want more of the same, or if you're in the mood for brainless treasure hunting that doesn't take itself too seriously.
The verdict
If you enjoyed the first National Treasure and crave more of Nicolas Cage's manic treasure hunting energy with presidential kidnapping thrown into the mix, this delivers exactly that same Saturday afternoon adventure formula. If you're looking for something fresh or can't tolerate overly long, absurd historical puzzles that feel like they're going through the motions, you'll find this sequel's diminishing returns frustrating.
Watch with
- 👨👩👧👦 Family movie night with older kids
- 👥 History buffs and adventure fans
- ⚠️ Skip if you want tight pacing
Heads up
- Action violence and chase sequences (moderate)
- Presidential kidnapping subplot (brief)
Credits
- Director
- Jon Turteltaub
- Cast
- Nicolas Cage, Diane Kruger, Justin Bartha, Ed Harris, Jon Voight, Helen Mirren, Harvey Keitel
Official synopsis
Benjamin Franklin Gates and Abigail Chase re-team with Riley Poole and, now armed with a stack of long-lost
The Double
Make a night of it
Pair this with The Sisters Brothers (2018)
Both follow treasure hunters on wild adventures with historical backdrops.
Total runtime: 2h 04m + 2h 01m = 4h 5m
