Larry Daley, the former security guard at the American Museum of Natural History, has turned to inventions. After his experiences from the first film, in which the people and creatures in the exhibits of the museum all came to life and spoke with him, he found himself inspired to reach for something greater, yet the busy schedule of running a business has left him unable to visit his usually-inanimate friends at the museum in some time. He goes into the museum and receives depressing news: the magical tablet which brings the still exhibits to life will be staying in New York, but the majority of the exhibits, including many that he loves, will be moved to the Federal Archives in Washington DC. However, unbeknownst to everyone, Dexter, a mischievous monkey from the primate exhibit, steals the magical tablet and takes it to DC with the rest of them. Larry is surprised one night to get a phone call from Jedediah, a cowboy from the miniatures exhibit, who tells him that an evil Pharaoh has been brought to life by the tablet and he's gathering troops, including Napoleon, Al Capone, and Ivan the Terrible. Larry travels to DC, where he is immediately attacked but saved by an animated General Custer statue. With the help of the beautiful Amelia Earhart statue, who immediately falls deeply in love with Larry, Larry must locate all of his friends, defeat the Pharaoh, and reclaim the magical tablet to restore the forces of good.
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Best part of story, including ending:
This is even more enjoyable than the first entry in the series, particularly because of the addition of Amelia Earhart, a strong, smart, and sassy female presence.
Best scene in story:
An animated giant octopus finds its way into the Reflecting Pool in front of the Lincoln Memorial, which is a hilarious and memorable image.
Opinion about the main character:
Larry isn't really what makes the film tick-- he just has to be the everyman who meets all of the fun and wacky characters who we fall in love with along the way.
