Review(s): DVD The Librarian 2 - Return to King Solomon's Mines
REVENGE OF THE NERDS meets RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK
THE LIBRARIAN 2: RETURN TO KING SOLOMON'S MINES is the sequel to THE LIBRARIAN: QUEST FOR THE SPEAR (2004) and again features Noah Wyle as Flynn Carsen, the titular Librarian who, on the surface, toils in the New York Metropolitan Public Library but whose true purpose is to safeguard the ancient, historical (and often mystical) artifacts stored in a hidden section of the library - fabled artifacts such as the Holy Grail, the sword Excalibur, Pandora's Box, Tesla's Death Ray, Adam & Eve's apple, etc. As a side job, Flynn also gets to unlock the world's greatest mysteries. As he says in the movie, "You'd be surprised at what you can learn at the library."
TNT debuted THE LIBRARIAN 2: RETURN TO KING SOLOMON'S MINES on Sunday, December 3, 2006 and, yes, I tuned in with my large order of pizza and Pepsi. The breezy movie tagline for this one is "New Continent. New Adventure. Still No Clue." which is a strong hint to the viewer that it's time yet again to indulge in esoteric, anthropological silliness. When Flynn Carsen first got the Librarian position, he was nerdy, clumsy, inept at physical activities, and not good with women. Now, after over a year of settling in...well, he's still all of those. But, hey, at least he still lives with his mother (who just tried to set him up with a third cousin).
Here come the plot and the SPOILERS: the movie opens with an enigmatic scroll being mailed to Flynn, which sends him once more furiously scampering around the globe on a desperate quest, but not before Charlene, the librarian director, advises him: "Be safe. Don't get killed. Save your receipts." This time, Flynn must try to piece together clues to the location of the legendary King Solomon's Mines. Of course, it can't be as easy as it sounds. Our maladroit librarian must contend with a secret mason society, hungry hippos, a beautiful, competitive archaeologist, family secrets, and a corrupt warlord who really, really wants the treasures of King Solomon. Not to mention, he faces the possibility of having to consume termites. Working in a library has never been more perilous.
Noah Wyle remains endearing in his nebbish but, nevertheless, heroic lead role, while the straight-faced Bob Newhart (Judson), Jane Curtin (Charlene), and Olympia Dukakis (Margie Carsen, Flynn's mom) adequately reprise their supporting roles. I do miss Sonya Walger, who played the sexy and uber-capable Nicole Noone, but lovely Gabrielle Anwar, here sporting a faux Brit accent and, in one sequence, a drool-enducing red outfit, ably steps in as brilliant archaeologist Emily Davenport, whose vaunted academic skills may surpass even that of Flynn's (she has one more PhD than Flynn, which incenses Flynn). Now, can a dorky bookworm find love with an upper class, brainy beauty who's so way above his league? With Wyle's excellent, humorously combative rapport with Anwar, he's got a chance.
Jonathan Frakes directs this one with a decidedly tongue-in-cheek aplomb. In channeling the Indiana Jones and the Mummy features, Frakes and the producers make no bones about their intention to craft a homage and transport the viewer to a simpler era when the cliffhanger adventure films of the '30s and '40s ran amok in cinema. True, like in the first movie, THE LIBRARIAN 2 does adopt a certain B-movie sensibility, with its requisite campiness. Frakes knows we're not about to take this series too seriously; yet he manages to infuse enough humor, character development, storyline, high adventure, and fun facts within the film that I found myself being charmed and hugely diverted. Granted, the special effects range from decent to dubious and won't even impress a 5 year old, but the acting performances, the fantastical premise, the old-school, globe-trotting derring-do, and the exotic locales will spark the viewer's imagination and sense of adventure. It's good, hokey fun, worth 3 and half stars. Can't wait for the third film.
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