Today’s quick review: The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor. Rick (Brendan Fraser) and Evelyn (Maria Bello) O’Connell are drawn from retirement when their son Alex (Luke Ford), now an archaeologist in his own right, unearths the Dragon Emperor (Jet Li), an ancient Chinese emperor cursed by the witch Zi Yuan (Michelle Yeoh) for his treachery. The family must stop the Emperor before he can be restored to his full power and raise his army of terracotta soldiers.
The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor is a fantasy adventure comedy. The third Mummy movie with Brendan Fraser, Tomb of the Dragon Emperor charts new territory for the franchise, eschewing the tombs of Ancient Egypt for those of China. Like its predecessors, the movie offers fantasy-infused action and a pervasive sense of humor. However, its flawed writing and mismanaged tone keep it from reaching its full potential.
If The Mummy Returns stays too close to the original, Tomb of the Dragon Emperor veers too far in the opposite direction. The new ideas have potential, but the movie struggles to find its voice. The script lacks the clever, feel-good humor of the original. The plot sets up plenty of action, but its pieces do not fit together as well as they could. The result is a film that feels much more generic than its predecessors.
Many of the movie’s problems stem from its use of its cast. Brendan Fraser is missing much of his old flair, leaving a hole at the heart of the movie. Maria Bello is a lackluster substitute for Rachel Weisz and lacks the spirit Evelyn needs. Newcomer Luke Ford never really sells the character of Alex. Jet Li and Michelle Yeoh do get a fair amount of screen time, but their martial arts skills are overshadowed by the film’s fantasy elements.
Tomb of the Dragon Emperor does make for a fine popcorn flick. Its action sequences are fanciful, CGI-driven affairs that take advantage of the story’s magic. Neither the CGI nor the fight choreography are outstandings, but they do get the job done. The humor is a step down from the previous movies, but it does keep the movie light. The movie also drops the series’ horror elements, opting for more palatable but less distinctive fantasy instead.
The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor works best when viewed as a fantasy action movie with decent production values. Fans of the series will be disappointed by its departures from the original and its gambles that don’t pay off, but it’s still an enjoyable watch for action fans. Skip it if you’re looking for something unique or memorable. For a Chinese fantasy action movie in a similar vein, check out The Great Wall.
5.6 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 for decent action and comedy, held back by weak writing and poor use of its cast.