Night at the Museum’s Tomb not much of a secret

The third installment of the Night at the Museum series, Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb brings back everybody’s favorite security guard—no, not Paul Blart—Larry Daley (Ben Stiller) this time on a quest to save the magic that brings the museum to life before it’s gone and the museum becomes ordinary forever.

The Sean Levy-directed flick is the late legend Robin Williams’ last role before his tragic passing in August. Robins, as Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt ignites the screen giving a perfect final curtain call for the beloved character. Williams’ last film is one for the books, and truthfully one of his most heartfelt and touching performances.

The film opens with Larry (Stiller) preparing for a big museum event showcasing the “museum coming to life.” The magic that allows everything to animate is running out, and everything and everyone is going haywire.

Secret of the Tomb is hilarious much like the other Night at the Museum films. It is well-paced so scenes don’t feel rushed. Almost every actor reprises their role as though no time had gone by; they’re believable.

The one exception to the rule is Rebel Wilson as Tilly, the British museum security guard. Though Wilson’s acting was perfectly funny and enjoyable in Pitch Perfect, her acting styles felt forced and annoying in Secret of the Tomb.

Her appearance seemed more like a “special celebrity guest role” in a sitcom than a feature role in a major motion picture.

The film had beautiful backdrops of both the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. and the one in London. Notably, a scene at night really showcases the beauty of London at night. Every scene was clearly meticulously detailed which really added to the experience.

The movie shows a more mature side to Larry’s relationship with his son, Nick. Where the past movies show Larry as a caring dad, Secret of the Tomb feels far more real. Nick is dealing with college applications and the stress of junior year, as well with all the craziness that comes with his dad’s life. The relationship between the two really shows what a relationship between a parent and child is like, especially during stressful and important times in life.

Though the film is rated PG for minor violence and slight crude humor, it still makes a good choice for family night.

Overall, Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb perfectly wraps up loose ends and provides a more than satisfactory conclusion, while simultaneously leaving the door open to potential sequels without viewers feeling like they are missing anything.