Movie Monday January 30: The Mummy Returns

Another movie Monday, another mummy movie. The second installment in the franchise, The Mummy Returns, delves more into the fantastical elements of Egyptian mythology as well as series lore.

**Warning, mild spoilers ahead, so if you haven’t watched the movie yet, what are you doing?**

Seven years after the previous film, Rick (Brendan Fraser), Evelyn (Rachel Weisz), and their son Alex (Freddie Boath) discover the bracelet of Anubis on a dig in Egypt. The bracelet is said to have been used by the Scorpion King (Dwayne Johnson) to conquer the ancient world, though Anubis later claimed his soul. When they take the bracelet to London, they’re attacked by a cult who wishes to resurrect Imhotep (Arnold Vosloo). Alex accidentally gets the bracelet stuck on his wrist, which shows him the directions to Ahm Shere, a desert oasis and home of the Scorpion King. The cult, including curator Baltus (Alun Armstrong) and enforcer Lock-Nah (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje), captures Evelyn. Meela (Patrica Velásquez), the physical reincarnation of Anck-su-namun and cult member, wants to give Evelyn as a gift to the now risen Imhotep. Rick, along with Jonathan (John Hannah) and Ardeth Bay (Oded Fehr), rescue her, but Alex is taken in the process. They follow the cult across Egypt towards Ahm Shere, where Imhotep plans to kill the Scorpion King and take control of Anubis’s army. Helped by dirigible pilot Izzy Buttons (Shaun Parkes), they barely make it in time to save Alex. Along the way, they discover that Evelyn is the reincarnation of Nefertiri, an Egyptian Princess and enemy of Anck-su-namun, while Rick is a warrior of the gods. Ardeth leaves to join the Medjai in the battle against Anubis’s army. At the pyramid of Ahm Shere, Meela, now inhabited by Anck-su-namun’s soul, kills Evelyn. Heartbroken, Rick battles both Imhotep and the Scorpion King while Alex and Jonathan steal the Book of the Dead. Using it, they successfully resurrect Evelyn. Rick defeats the Scorpion King and sends him and his army back to the underworld. As the pyramid and oasis start to crumble, Evelyn saves Rick while Anck-su-namun abandons Imhotep. Izzy and his dirigible arrive and airlift Rick, Evelyn, Jonathan, and Alex. Jonathan also takes the pyramid’s giant diamond capstone, once again leaving their adventure with treasure.

I actually hadn’t seen The Mummy Returns in several years before this. I forgot how much fun this sequel is. Sometimes the second movie in a franchise isn’t very good or doesn’t live up to the hype of the original. Though The Mummy is the cult classic and best film in the series, The Mummy Returns is able to stand its ground. It’s entertaining, has interesting lore that adds more to the franchise, and is once again full of standout performances.

Brendan Fraser’s Rick in this movie is in full on dad mode, but is still no less the dashing hero. There are many sweet and emotional moments between the O’Connells. Evelyn’s death, albeit brief, and Alex reuniting with her parents are emotional rollercoasters. Child actor Freddie Boath is able to hold his own amongst veteran actors and injects a whole lot of cuteness and sass into the movie. Also, Patrica Velásquez’s Meela is hands down one of my favorite villains. She’s so calm and in control and is better at being evil than everyone except Imhotep. And maybe even she beats him. She did leave him to be dragged to hell instead of helping him.

Though the film’s special effects are a little fake looking at times, especially the half-man, half-scorpion Dwayne Johnson, there are beautiful moments too. The traveling montage is especially impressive. The combination of practical sets, on location shooting, and a sprinkling of CGI and well balanced and engaging. The flashback/unlocked memories of Nefertiri and Anck-su-namun is an especially lush and gorgeous sequence. (It’s also a reference to the original Boris Karloff picture). The fight scene between the two women is really well choreographed and mirrors the one later in the movie. The inclusion of boxing techniques later on is a great callback to the first movie, when Rick teaches Evelyn to throw a punch. 

The Mummy Returns is a great addition and building block for the franchise. It’s a bit more action-adventure than the first one, losing a lot of the horror elements, but still good. Do I wish that it was a bit darker, sure. Am I mad about it, no.

One moment that made me laugh:

Another fun callback to The Mummy is the final fight sequence when Alex and Jonathan are running around trying to read from the Book of the Living to kill Imhotep. This time Alex doesn’t know the final hieroglyphic, but Jonathan does. It’s a fun little tidbit for the fans.

One moment that made me cry:

Evelyn’s death tied with Ardeth’s bird Horus being shot. Evelyn comes back less than ten minutes later, but sadly Horus doesn’t.

I’d give The Mummy Returns 7 giant diamonds out of 10.