Rick O’Connell (Brendan Fraser, “Journey to the Center of the Earth”) and his wife, Evie (Maria Bello, “A History of Violence”), have retired to England, where they reminisce about the glory days of battling the mummy Imhotep. Their adult son, Alex (newcomer Luke Ford), is on a dig in China, searching for the burial chamber of the first Chinese Emperor (Jet Li, “The Forbidden Kingdom”). When the couple is sent on an inadequately-explained diplomatic mission to deliver an ancient jewel to the Chinese, the statue of the Emperor is reawakened by power-hungry members of the Chinese military. Only the O’Connells have the foresight and abilities to stop the Emperor before his powers are fully restored and he resurrects his terra-cotta army.
The premise of this new film is an attempt to breathe fresh air into a dormant franchise – the last film was released seven years ago – but proves to be a creative dead-end. Fan-favorite Rachel Weisz, who performed the character of Evie in the first two films, was unwilling to return for this new adventure, and her replacement cannot re-establish the on-screen chemistry that once existed between the O’Connells. Fraser seems lost without Weisz, appearing bored with this new adventure and unsure of what he’s doing here.
With the returning characters failing to add anything to the film, the Chinese performers give it their all. Li devilishly portrays the resurrected Chinese Emperor, and Michelle Yeoh as a heroic sorceress is legitimately committed to her character, which results in a wonderful fight scene between herself and Li. But Ford – a stiff choice as the younger O’Connell – is pushed unsuccessfully into the lead, probably in the hopes that he’ll carry any future sequels. And the film contains an abundance of over-choreographed action sequences and middling special effects, none of which lends any real emotional heft to the story.
Universal Studios should apologize to the series creator for burying his franchise – and to China, for turning a fascinating country’s history and mythology into such a bland film. This is unquestionably the biggest disappointment of the summer.
Rated R for crude and sexual content, and pervasive language.
