'The Mummy Returns'
Mikometer Rating: 7 of 10

The first big summer film of 2001 is out of the gate, and it is a winner. Everyone's back, having a grand old time trying to defeat the Mummy. I know this is a sequel to a remake, but I am impressed. This one doesn't go too far, and goes just far enough. Even though, technically, this is a remake: 'The Mummy' is one of Universal's stock monsters, after all. It plays fresh, with a self parodying tone that is tempered just right, and enough action and horror-comedy to satisfy your average jaded moviegoer.
The Mummy in 1999 was a real surprise, both to moviegoers and to Universal. Something about the updating of this story clicked with audiences. The effects dazzled. Brendan Fraser, who should be chosen to play Indiana Jones at some point in his career, pulls off an extrordinary feat, breathing life into adventurer Rick O'Connell, a sort of pastiche of every rugged movie hero, a truly cliched role, but one played with gusto. The movie was a monster hit, and 'The Mummy Returns' was quickly greenlighted.
Adding to the zany goings on this time is wrestling star The Rock as The Scorpion King, a bit role which is part computer generated. He seems to be from another movie, and indeed, 'The Scorpion King', a spinoff movie, was filmed alongside 'Mummy Returns'.
Also, Patricia Velasquez plays my favorite character in the film, Anuk-Su-Namen, who has been reincarnated, and wants to breathe some life into Imhotep, played as before by Arnold Vosloo. There are thrills aplenty, and the time passes quickly. Movies like this are usually called 'popcorn fare'. This series harks back to Saturday Matinees. We know George Lucas brought back the 'popcorn movie' with 'Star Wars' in 1977. By this century, they are either devilishly good, or unbelieveably lame.
The trailer played in theaters for at least six months, and grew very tiring. The setpieces looked exciting, though, and indeed they are. The best sequences involve a double decker bus, and a dirigible carrying our heros into the climactic showdown. I didn't much care for the miniature mummys, who reminded me of Ewoks, and enjoyed the rainforest sequence except for them.
Rachel Weisz made quite an entrance in 'The Mummy' and she sparkles again as the cute but clumsy Evelyn. The comedic-romantic scenes between Rachel and Brendan do have chemistry.
This isn't Citizen Kane, though, after all, and even if it is a hoot, it isn't really a work of art. Some might argue that by definition a popcorn movie can't be art, but I beg to differ. Some films aspire to artistic levels. 'The Mummy Returns' doesn't. It exists as another rollercoaster ride through the Egyptian desert with Rick, Evelyn, Jonathon, Imhotep, and Anuk-Su-Namen. There are needless references to infinitely better films. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon comes to mind. But the movie entertains, moves at a brisk clip, and isn't too overbearing with cultural references and schtick. The summer season looks to be pretty bleak this year, but at least the first movie to emerge is worth the price of the ticket.

Mikometer Rating: 7 of 10

'The Mummy Returns' PG-13
Brendan Fraser: Rick O'Connell
Rachel Weisz: Evelyn
John Hannah: Jonathan
Arnold Vosloo: Imhotep
Oded Fehr: Ardeth Bay
Patricia Velasquez: Anck-Su-Namun
Freddie Boath: Alex

An Alphaville production, released by Universal Pictures. Director Stephen Sommers. Producers James Jacks, Sean Daniel. Executive producers Bob Ducsay, Don Zepfel. Screenplay Stephen Sommers. Cinematographer Adrian Biddle. Editors Bob Ducsay, Kelly Matsumoto. Costumes John Bloomfield. Music Alan Silvestri. Production design Allan Cameron. Art director Anthony Reading, Giles Masters. Set decorator Peter Young. Running time: 2 hours, 9 minutes.

Review written and copyrighted 2001 by Michael F. Nyiri