Based on the hit film franchise,?Night at the Museum: Kahmunrah Rises Again?is a new animated adventure that once again returns fans to the American Museum of Natural History. After his success in New York, Larry Daley has taken his career as a museum curator to the next level by accepting a summer position in Japan. However, that leaves the question of who will manage the museum back home? When the sun goes down, mischief always ensues as the exhibits come to life and they require someone with a special touch. As a result, Larry turns to his now-teenage son, Nick, to take on the responsibility for the summer. Having grown up amongst the exhibits himself, Nick understands the magic (and mayhem) that happens every night and is more than ready to take the flashlight for himself. However, when an ancient evil returns unexpectedly, Nick and the exhibits must race to thwart his plans before the sun rises.
In a lot of ways, Museum is exactly the type of project that Disney+ is built for. Take an existing IP and rework it into something fresh for the next generation (and less expensive). Then, use it to potentially launch a new franchise. (And, make no mistake. While no announcement has been made, this film is absolutely designed to set up a new animated series, if the film is popular enough.)
But that?s a little cynical.
Regardless of whether or not we see further adventures of Nick and friends, the return of the?Museum?franchise is an energetic and fun project that younger viewers should enjoy. Featuring animation that feels like a modern-day cousin to classic series?Clone High,?Museum?looks great (but isn?t particularly startling). While the film definitely features CGI, there’s a certain And, of course, there are callbacks to the films for fans to catch while also creating new characters and opportunities as well.
As with many Disney animated projects, Museum looks at empowering youth. As a high school student, Nick has a hard time finding his voice. Sharing his new ideas on music is difficult and he struggles to speak to the girl that he likes. However, like the statues in he cares for, Nick comes alive in the museum. Here, he may be nervous but he has the support that he needs to step up into leadership. Despite the fact that he must (literally) save the world from the clutches of Kamunrah, Nick slowly begins to find his groove with the encouragement of those from the museum.
But what was most interesting to me was that the humour and style of storytelling was reminiscent of the type of adventure shows that I grew up with as a kid like?Transformers,?Thundercats?and?He-Man and the Masters of the Universe. Although the stories couldn?t be more different, the structure of the series remained the same: take a younger character that?s thrust into leadership and watch them grow in maturity and strength with each new challenge. For Nick, the responsibility isn?t merely about taking a summer job.?
It?s about taking responsibility for himself and growing up.
This sort of message is always welcome for kids (and parents). While the film itself isn?t particularly special, the lessons within it are positive and encouraging kids to believe in themselves. That reason alone makes it a worthwhile experience to spend another Night at the Museum.
Night at the Museum: The Return of Khamunrah is streaming on Disney+ on Friday, December 9th, 2022.
