THE MUMMY RETURNS

The Mummy Returns is set in the 1930's, 10 years after the original with our two main heroes Rick and Evelyn, played once again by Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz. They are now married with a son Alex played superbly by old Freddie Boath. Evelyn's fraidy-cat brother Jonathan played by John Hannah is back, being a big girl's blouse as usual.

The film begins with a monumental battle set 5,000 years in the past. The main villain the Scorpion King, played by WWF legend The Rock, who makes a pact with the evil Anubis, the embalming god of the afterlife who weighs your heart to see if you are worthy. This pact involves the Scorpion King having a Faust moment, selling his soul in return for victory in battle. Because of this, he and his army become frozen in time just waiting to be awoken where they can unleash their unspeakable evil on the world.

Back in the 30s Rick and Evelyn are in trouble as the powerful mummy of Imhotep (remember him?) has been brought back from the dead to fight the Scorpion King and his mental army. For some stupid reason they drag Alex along for the ride, who has a sacred and powerful bracelet stuck on his wrist that must be kept away from the baddies. Did I mention that is has to be removed or something cataclysmic will happen?!

As you might expect the effects are amazing and the mummy's really steal the show running up walls and generally making a bloody nuisance of themselves. The original friction and sexual chemistry is gone between the leads but the wit that comes from being a married couple gives some light comic relief. All in all you can't knock it as an action adventure. It has more action to the pound than most, explosions, bottomless pits, snakes, scorpions, scarabs and a girly catfight between Evelyn and her evil opposite Meela but somehow it still seems a bit lacking, rather like the original.

7/10

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