National Treasure: Book of Secrets

NEW YORK (CNS) -- It pays not to think too hard while viewing "National Treasure: Book of Secrets" (Disney). Although paper-thin and thoroughly implausible, this adventure sequel is nonetheless diverting.

Ben Gates (Nicolas Cage) is a successful treasure hunter and the proud descendant of Thomas Gates, a Civil War-era hero about whom he lectures. When an audience member with a Confederate lineage, Mitch Wilkinson (Ed Harris), produces evidence implicating Thomas Gates in the conspiracy to assassinate Abraham Lincoln, Ben and his father, Patrick (Jon Voight), are determined to vindicate their ancestor's good name.

To help in this effort, and in their quest for the hidden "city of gold" that Thomas Gates managed to conceal from the Confederacy, they enlist the support of Ben's technologically gifted but hapless partner, Riley Poole (Justin Bartha), as well as Ben's archivist ex-girlfriend Abigail Chase (Diane Kruger).

More problematically, they also turn for assistance to Ben's formidable mother, Professor Emily Appleton (Helen Mirren). Although her expertise in Native American languages is useful to Ben, she has been estranged from Patrick for more than 30 years.

The team's search, guided by arcane historical clues, and shadowed by Wilkinson, takes them first to Paris, then on to London, where Ben has to break into the queen's private study at Buckingham Palace. Back in Washington, Abigail uses her new boyfriend, Connor (Ty Burrell), a White House aide, to facilitate a private inspection of the Oval Office.

After that, nothing will do but for Ben to kidnap the president, though in the friendliest manner possible. Happily, the JFK-like chief executive (Bruce Greenwood) is a history buff who doesn't seem to mind being abducted for a good cause. Equally unflappable is FBI Special Agent Sadusky (Harvey Keitel), whose admiring pursuit of Ben always seems to leave him one step behind.

Director John Turteltaub's film is overlong and will obviously not bear close scrutiny. But those viewers willing to go along for the ride will be rewarded with car chases, journeys through underground passages and an alternative version of U.S. history.

So long as it keeps to its usual breathless pace, "National Treasure: Book of Secrets" works well enough. Only when the script pauses to summon up any sort of emotion does the elaborate machinery creak and groan.

The film contains some intense action sequences and a couple of bathroom gags. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

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Copyright (c) 2007 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops