Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb

It took five years to reassemble the cast for this third outing for the exhibits that magically come to life in their museum at night. This time, though, their days seem numbered. The tablet of "Ahkmenrah" (Rami Malek) is starting to lose it's powers and so unless "Daley" (Ben Stiller) can find some way of reinvigorating it, his friends will revert to their plastic and papier-mâché forms for ever. This means that he has to convince "McPhee" (Ricky Gervais) - who is, himself, facing redundancy to let them travel to the British Museum where it might be possible for the young Pharaoh to talk to his father and learn if this process is reversible (or not). It's almost as if all the cast have gathered together for a farewell party with the film having quite a mischievously joyous atmosphere to it as the same old scenarios are replayed around the rather tired, by now, characterisations. That said, it's more fun the the middle episode in the franchise and the adventure a bit livelier - Dan Stevens (check out the blue eyes!) is clearly enjoying his portrayal of Sir Lancelot and Sir Ben Kingsley seems to be struggling to keep the grin from his face as daddy "Merenkahre". No jeopardy and very little menace here, just a bit of forgettable fun that ought to see off this franchise now. Perhaps an whole new generation of kids will be taking their's to a museum? Hope so.