National Treasure: The Book of Secrets

National Treasure: Book of Secrets is not so much a sequel than a remake of the original 2005 hit film. The story not so much strains credulity as it rockets past it into some outer realm where logic and sense do not matter.

Once again, the team of treasure hunters from the original movie, Ben Franklin Gates, played by Nicolas Cage, Riley Poole, played by Justin Bartha, Abigail Chase, played by Diane Kruger, and Patrick Henry Gates, played by Jon Voight, go forth in search of another treasure. They are joined by Emily Appleton, played by Helen Mirren, who is apparently Ben Gate's mom and Patrick Gate's estranged wife.

Since the first movie, when the treasure of the Templar Knights was uncovered, things have not been happy for our intrepid treasure hunters. Ben and Abigail are split up and fighting over the furniture. Riley is in trouble with the IRS and is desperately trying to parley his threadbare fame for having helped uncover the first treasure for some action with the ladies. Patrick is as grumpy as ever.

The catalyst for this movie's treasure hunt is the apparently revelation, brought forth in a newly discovered missing page from the diary of John Wilkes Booth, that a Gates ancestor was part of the conspiracy to murder President Lincoln. Now some families might revel in this sort of left handed notoriety. But the Gates family is very caring about family honor, so there is nothing for it but to go on a quest to clear the name of the Gates ancestor.

That quest takes them to Paris, London, the White House, Mount Vernon, and finally Mount Rushmore. It features, in no particular order of importance, two desks, a replica of the Statue of Liberty, a book which is a conspiracy nut's dream, and a couple of tunnel complexes in very unlikely places. And, oh yes, there is the abduction of the President of the United States, who in this film greatly resembles Mitt Romney.

Ed Harris plays a southern bad guy who is also after the treasure. So there are lots of chase scenes and gun fights and Riley using electronic wizardry to the team into places where they are not strictly speaking allowed to go. Harvey Keitel makes a brief appearance as Special Agent Sadusky of the FBI.

The best way to enjoy National Treasure: Book of Secrets is to turn ones discernment off and just go along for the thrill ride. Once the movie is over, then one can nitpick to ones heart's content over chicken wings and egg rolls. There will be plenty of opportunity to do so.