Mummy Returns (2001)

"Both pleasantly old-fashioned and packed with up-to-date computer-generated special effects...  Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times
"...the movie's a blast...  Larry Terenzi, Mr. Showbiz
"...bursts with visual goodies...[and] nonstop action...  Todd McCarthy, Variety
"A must-see adventure!  Jeffrey Lyons, WNBC-TV
"Perfectly enjoyable swashbuckling, eye-catching entertainment.  Jonathan Foreman, New York Post
"Breathlessly action-packed!  New York Daily News
"...a mite darker and scarier and the effects a little spiffier [than The Mummy].  Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer
"...a fast pace, plenty of self-mocking humor, and a sarcophagus-full of majestic special effects.  Tor Thorsen, Reel.com

Editor's Note Flanked by fabulous computer-generated battle scenes that would make BRAVEHEART proud, THE MUMMY RETURNS is a fast-paced sequel that surpasses the hit 1999 original, both directed by Stephen Sommers. Virtually the entire cast has come back for another exciting go-round, this time trying to prevent Imhotep (Arnold Vosloo) from gaining control of the Bracelet of Anubis and taking on the Scorpion King (the Rock) for control of the world. But to gain that power, Imhotep and his vicious true love, Anck-Su-Namun (Patricia Velasquez), must get to the Oasis of Ahm Shere before Rick O'Connell (Brendan Fraser), his wife, Evie (Rachel Weisz), their son, Alex (Freddie Boath), the mysterious Ardeth Bay (Oded Fehr), and Evie's brother, Jonathan (John Hannah, who provides much of the comic relief). Set in 1933, THE MUMMY RETURNS combines elements of the STAR WARS and INDIANA JONES films in letting loose a scintillating thrill-ride of a movie, chock-full of terrific special effects and marvelous locations (Morocco, Jordan, and London), erupting in a spirited tale of flight and fantasy, sword and sorcery. The addition of Freddie Boath to the cast increases the suspense as well as the comedy; his scenes with the evil Lock-Nah (fiercely played by OZ veteran Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje) are among the best in the film. THE MUMMY RETURNS also features professional wrestler the Rock as the Scorpion King, who was defeated in 3067 BC and is ready to be resurrected in the Year of the Scorpion.

	Arnold Vosloo
	Brendan Fraser
	Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson
	Rachel Weisz
	Adrian Biddle - Cinematographer
	Alan Silvestri - Original Music By
	Bob Ducsay - Executive Producer
	Kelly Matsumoto, et. al. - Editor
	Sean Daniel - Producer
	Stephen Sommers - Director
	Stephen Sommers - Writer
	Tony Reading, et. al. - Art Director

USA Today
"...THE MUMMY RETURNS overcomes the curse of sequelitis while raising the bar..." 05/04/2001 p.6E

Entertainment Weekly
"...The actors themselves are more rip-roaring and full of spunk than in their first outing....[The Rock] makes a great face when he thunders..." 05/11/2001 p.48-9

Variety
"...Considerably more elaborate and spectacular than [the first]....The widescreen here virtually bursts with visual goodies..." 05/07/2001 p.49-58

Sight and Sound
"...THE MUMMY RETURNS is pure entertainment..." 07/01/2001 p.46

Los Angeles Times
"...Shrewdly conceived and efficiently executed....The film's constant plot turns, cheeky sensibility and omnipresent action sequences have no trouble attracting our attention and holding on..." 05/04/2001 p.1

ReelViews 7 of 10
The story for The Mummy Returns is a meager and muddled affair peppered with deus ex machina contrivances...Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz rekindle the cute chemistry that existed between their characters in The Mummy. Freddie Boath makes an effective addition to the cast, primarily because he's not as annoying as most movie kids. John Hannah is back as the fatuous Jonathan. Arnold Vosloo's Im-Ho-Tep is subtly diminished, perhaps because he now has to share the spotlight with two other villains. Patricia Velazquez has an expanded role here from the one she essayed in the first film. And the part of The Scorpion King doesn't challenge The Rock's thespian abilities - all he has to do is snarl and look tough - things he is familiar with from his day job...The Mummy Returns offers one surprise - an unexpectedly poignant dramatic moment in which we feel a surge of sympathy for one of the characters. Unfortunately, it's for one of the bad guys, which makes the ending a downer. Overall, the film probably offers what fans of The Mummy are expecting. The thinner, unnecessarily long storyline notwithstanding, this is essentially more of the same. It's hollow, lightweight entertaininment - not unpleasant, but far from the summer's definitive action/adventure flick. - James Berardinelli

Reel.com 8 of 10
Many critics lambasted The Mummy Returns as mindless filmmaking of the lowest order. In a way, they were right - it's a completely silly film, an undemanding joy ride that doesn't aspire to anything resembling deep thought. But that's not necessarily a bad thing, since it does succeed in entertaining with a fast pace, plenty of self-mocking humor, and a sarcophagus-full of majestic special effects. Those willing to forgive writer/director Stephen Sommers' glaring historical inaccuracies - such as ancient Egyptian cat-fights with Chinese Sai swords and head-shrinking pygmies running amok in North Africa - would be hard-pressed not to have fun. - Tor Thorsen

San Francisco Chronicle 5 of 10
Two years ago "The Mummy" breathed new life into an old form. "The Mummy Returns" does the opposite. It takes a lively premise, kills it and wraps it in tight bandages. It will take a future generation to unwrap this tradition and make it live again...This is not to say the new movie is all bad. It has many of the same elements that made the first film charming -- except charm..."The Mummy Returns" suffers from the bloat common to sequels. Like a guilty parent showering his child with gifts, writer-director Stephen Sommers tries to compensate for a palpable lack of inspiration with generosity. Everything's big: The special effects (armies of dog-men marching); the soundtrack (like a biblical epic); the picture's length; and even Weisz's hair extensions...One thing is unforgivably big, and that's the plot. The picture has two villains, as in one too many. There is Imhotep (Arnold Vosloo), who wants to take over the world. And there's the Scorpion King, who also wants to take over the world. The Scorpion King is played by wrestling superstar the Rock, convincing in his film debut as a big guy with muscles...It's all computer-generated nonsense, and when the film isn't nonsensical and violent, it's just violent. For a movie aimed at young teenagers, "The Mummy Returns" has a surprising amount of machine-gun fire and dead bodies. - Mick LaSalle