Today’s quick review: The Mummy. Spotting an opportunity, Evelyn (Rachel Weisz), a librarian specializing in Egyptian history, recruits Rick O’Connell (Brendan Fraser), a washed-up ex-soldier, to take her to the mythical city of Hamunaptra. Along with Evelyn’s brother Jonathan (John Hannah), the adventurers unwittingly release Imhotep (Arnold Vosloo), an Ancient Egyptian priest cursed to an eternity of undeath.
The Mummy is an adventure comedy with horror elements. The movie pits a ragtag team of explorers against an ancient corpse with otherworldly powers. The Mummy offers a satisfying blend of gun-toting action, well-judged comedy, and CGI-driven horror. The movie makes for a competent, enjoyable adventure that delivers exactly what it promises. However, its straightforward plot and focus on moment-to-moment entertainment keep it from achieving anything more.
The Mummy has solid craftsmanship and a strong understanding of what it’s trying to do. The script is surprisingly engaging: it presents the important information clearly and gives its characters plenty to do. The plot is simple enough to follow and eventful enough to fill out the movie. The characters are lively, and their interactions are consistently amusing. The omnipresent bits of comedy mesh organically with the adventure proper.
The Mummy does have its limitations. The CGI, though functional, is dated. The horror coating gives the film an edge that not all viewers will appreciate. The style of magic is consistent but its rules are arbitrary. The Mummy also takes a while to put its pieces on the board. The opening section of the film has plenty of action and moves along at a brisk pace, but the actual mummy doesn’t appear for forty-five minutes.
Give The Mummy a watch when you are in the mood for a fun adventure with plenty of action. Gruesome images and the occasional scare make The Mummy a slightly harder watch than similar offerings, but those who don’t mind a touch of horror will be rewarded with a thoroughly entertaining popcorn flick. For more adventure in a similar style, check out the Indiana Jones series or the Librarian series.
7.0 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it the same for good humor, plentiful action, and overall solid execution.