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National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets

Ben Gates is back, and enjoying the wealth and fame he built after following the treasure map on the back of the Declaration of Independence in the first film. He and his father have been presenting their family history, and are currently presenting information about John Wilkes Booth’s diary.

While giving their presentation, Ben and his father’s ancestor is called into question when an attendee surfaces with a missing page of the Booth diary. This page implicates Ben’s great-grandfather in the plot to assassinate President Lincoln. Ben’s, Abigail’s and Riley’s assets are put on hold, and the only way to make things right is to prove Gates’s innocence. The only way to prove his innocence is to locate and solve the puzzle in the President’s Book of Secrets. The only way to get to the book is to kidnap the President.

The movie is comprised of many subplots that are all a part of the larger puzzle. The President’s book sends them to the President’s office, where they locate a piece of wood with Native American glyphs on it. One of the only people that can translate happens to be Ben’s mother. The addition of Helen Mirren (as Emily) to the cast is a brilliant one. She translates and sends them to London for the other piece.

The movie follows similar themes as the first. A madcap, semi-historical jaunt with a treasure hunt thrown in for good measure. It’s just as much fun as the first film, with a great, gaping hole left at the end (audiences should expect a sequel). Nicholas Cage delivers an expected performance, while Justin Bartha (as Riley Poole) is spot on comedically. Ed Harris brings his usual as the villain, and John Voight is bland as Ben’s father. Luckily, his performance improves in every scene he shares with the always-delightful Mirren. Not a must-see, but certainly entertaining.

Written by: Tracy Elledge

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