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It’s a good replacement for Indiana Jones that doesn’t get bogged down in things like logic.

After the rousing success of National Treasure, it only made sense to make a sequel.  The unlikely combination of historical mysteries with Nicholas Cage proved too much a good thing to not take a second pass.  The whole gang is back and this time they brought along Ed Harris for kicks.  National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets is bigger, louder and more implausible than the first film but the fun spirit of the first film is intact to help you swallow this pill.

Ben Gates is now very famous thanks to the treasure he found in the first film.  His treasure seeking partner Riley Poole (Justin Bartha) has written a book, which no one is reading because it’s not the Ben Gates book and his girlfriend Abigail Chase (Diane Kruger) has kicked him out of their mansion because he’s a tool.  While doing a lecture circuit, a rival (Ed Harris) calls into question all of Ben’s data and produces a letter that could destroy the Gates Family legacy.  To clear his name Ben gathers the crew back together to find the Book of Secrets and a legendary Lost City of Gold.  Along the way he breaks into the Queens palace, the oval office, becomes a wanted man and kidnaps the President.

National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets isn’t so much about plausibility as it just wants the viewer to have a good time.  Ben and crew bounce around the globe tracking down clues and solving puzzles.  It’s pretty fun stuff until the last 20 minutes when the set already farcical action stunts tip the scale on ludicrous (really a teeter-tottering board).  As with all sequels, you don’t only get a bigger set of adventures, you also get new cast members.  Ed Harris and Helen Mirren join in the hunt for lost treasure.  There was a time when I looked forward to Ed Harris in a film.  Those days are starting to pass me by.  He is the weakest link in the new film and is generally unnecessary to the film.

National Treasure tries to fill the hole that Indiana Jones created.  It’s an adequate substitute to fill the time.  Fans of the film are treated to a special two-disc edition.  Disc one contains trailers for Disney films and a commentary track with director John Turteltaub and Jon Voight.  Turteltaub provides a lots of background information on the film and he has lots to say.  Voight pops up from time to time with a little input but this is Turteltaub’s show. 

Disc two is slam packed with extras.  There are the obligatory deleted scenes with a nice intro by the director.  There are some bloopers and outtakes and several behind the scenes featurettes covering everything from street stunts to the golden city of Cibola to a quick overview of the real history of the secessionist organization.  None of them run longer than 10-15 minutes but each provides a nice bit of information. 

If you enjoyed the first National Treasure, you’ll probably enjoy the second.  It’s an enjoyable film but the story isn’t as strong as the first film.  National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets should help propel the film into a long franchise.  If Nick Cage’s film selections don’t improve, he’ll return to this franchise again and again to keep himself viable. 

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