NATIONAL TREASURE
Overlong adventure starts with a promising premise but then piles on one ending too many before the final payoff!
2-1/2 stars (out of 4) or 3 stars for history buffs [(2004)USA] - (2 hrs. 10 min.)
Directed by Jon Turteltaub
Screenplay By Jim Kouf, Cormac & Marianne Wibberley
Lead character/Cast
Ben Gates - Nicolas Cage
Supporting characters/Cast (opening scene only)
John Adams Gates (Grand-dad) - Christopher Plummer
Young Ben Gates - Hunter Gomez
Review:
Sort of a domestic version of 'Indiana Jones' with less real action but plenty of laughs thrown in (especially for American history buffs). I can't imagine how this film will do outside the USA, so it looks like Disney (once again) has shot themselves in the foot if this movie isn't a big hit here in the states (luckily, it was).
Nicolas Cage fans will be happy to see him continuing his string of amiable comic characters (re: "Matchstick Men," "Adaptation") as 'Ben Gates', plus he gets to play romantic leading man opposite the very sexy (and smart) Diane Kruger (Helen of "Troy"). Thankfully, the romantic chemistry works.
What doesn't work so well though is the seemingly endless trail of clues that must be unearthed in order to find the hoped for 'treasure' (SPOILER: linked to an invisible map on the back of Declaration of Independence).
Meanwhile actors Justin Bartha ("Gigli"), as Ben's sidekick, and Jon Voight ("Zoolander") as Ben's suspicious father, provide plenty of comic relief between escapades.
And I certainly can't close out this review without mentioning Sean Bean (everyone's favorite 'Boromir' from "The Lord of the Rings") having a grand old time as a 'Richard Branson'-esque millionaire bent on taking the treasure for himself.
If only this film had ended about 10 minutes sooner, everyone would have had a grand old time. No editing Oscar for this one, that's for sure!
Still, if you have hankering for Colonial intrigue by our forefathers, then load up on the popcorn, turn off your brain, and enjoy!
MORE cast:
Abigail Chase - Diane Kruger
Riley Poole (Ben's partner) - Justin Bartha
Ian Howe (the rich baddie) - Sean Bean
Patrick Gates (Ben's dad) - Jon Voight
Sadusky (FBI agent) - Harvey Keitel
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++