Quartile rating: 6/10 · 1 rating
Hapless museum night watchman Larry Daley must help his living, breathing exhibit friends out of a pickle now that they've been transferred to the archives at the Smithsonian Institution. Larry's (mis)adventures this time include close encounters with Amelia Earhart, Abe Lincoln and Ivan the Terrible.
Battle of the Smithsonian is a fairly formulaic sequel that recycles the core premise of the original without adding much new conceptually. The plot is thin and episodic, stringing together celebrity historical figure cameos with little narrative depth. Hank Azaria's Kahmunrah is an entertaining villain and Amy Adams brings genuine energy as Amelia Earhart, lifting the acting above average. The Smithsonian setting offers some visual variety with its grand halls and famous artworks coming to life, giving the cinematography a modest boost. However, the novelty is low — it's a by-the-numbers sequel that trades on the same magical-tablet gimmick with a bigger budget and more famous faces. The ending resolves predictably with little emotional payoff.