Mummy Returns, The

Mr. Showbiz Larry Terenzi

What matters is that the movie's a blast, right up until its protracted climax.

USA Today Susan Wloszczyna

There's much mumbo-jumbo about past lives and symbolic tattoos, but who cares when you can gaze at a sight as lovely as a dirigible floating in the night sky?

Los Angeles Times Kenneth Turan

Both pleasantly old-fashioned and packed with up-to-date computer-generated special effects, the film's constant plot turns, cheeky sensibility and omnipresent action sequences have no trouble attracting our attention and holding on.

Variety Todd McCarthy

Virtually bursts with visual goodies, and writer-director Stephen Sommers scarcely allows the actors, or the audience, a moment to take a breath during the nonstop action of the final hour.

Seattle Post-Intelligencer Sean Axmaker

Sommers is a pure pop Steven Spielberg who's put his deft technical skills in the service of the ultimate rollercoaster movie ride. It's sometimes more exhausting than exciting.

Austin Chronicle Marc Savlov

So gleefully abandons any semblance of sanity that it's virtually impossible not to enjoy the sheer breadth of nonsensical fun taking place on screen.

Philadelphia Inquirer Steven Rea

Although the sequel retains its predecessor's breezy retro spirit, The Mummy Returns is a mite darker and scarier and the effects a little spiffier.

Chicago Tribune Mark Caro

Action junkies may enjoy this non-stop barrage, which barely pauses for anything but the most rudimentary (albeit complicated) plot exposition.

New York Post Jonathan Foreman

Perfectly enjoyable swashbuckling, eye-catching entertainment.

New York Daily News Jami Bernard

The movie resembles a video game in which each victory whisks you to the next level, with slightly different antagonists and a faster pace.

Chicago Reader Lisa Alspector

It's all very impressive without being particularly enthralling.

Film.com Sean Means

Mostly he's (Fraser) trapped in a sequel that's too wrapped up in a desire to top itself.

Entertainment Weekly Lisa Schwarzbaum

The actors themselves are more rip roaring and full of spunk than in their first outing.

Portland Oregonian Kim Morgan

So action-packed from start to finish that the final result is grating rather than thrilling.

Salon.com Charles Taylor

Everything the first "Mummy" was fun for not being. It's loud and chaotic, jammed with effects that don't wow us precisely because they are trying so hard to wow us.

Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert

The mistake of The Mummy Returns is to abandon the characters, and to use the plot only as a clothesline for special effects and action sequences.

Christian Science Monitor David Sterritt

More emphasis on computer-generated gimmickry than on persuasive acting and ideas.

Village Voice Michael Atkinson

First and foremost a trial run for a Universal Studios ride.

Slate David Edelstein

A few billion 1s and 0s in search of a movie.

Boston Globe Jay Carr

If you liked the earlier ''Mummy,'' you'll probably like this one. In fact, at many points you'll probably think you are watching the earlier one.

The New York Times A.O. Scott

The noisome action sequences of The Mummy Returns are preferable to the quiet times, when the cast is limited to spouting dialogue that is a banal combination of exposition and homily.

TV Guide Maitland McDonagh

It works its gilded butt off to give you your money's worth.

San Francisco Chronicle Mick LaSalle

Suffers from the bloat common to sequels.

Miami Herald Rene Rodriguez

The Mummy was certainly no "Raiders," but as far as summer movies go, it was just good enough.

LA Weekly Hazel-Dawn Dumpert

You can't see the movie for the footage, so thick is it with digital tricks and furious action.

Wall Street Journal Joe Morgenstern

This frenzied sequel has all of the clank but none of the swank of the previous version.

Charlotte Observer Lawrence Toppman

This might all have been silly fun -- as it was in the 1999 version -- except for the carelessness of the whole picture.

Washington Post Curt Fields

Fraser is likable enough, albeit never quite convincing as an action hero.

Washington Post Rita Kempley

Many of the visual effects are stunning, but others are downright cheesy -- especially an attempt to fuse the Rock's head onto a scorpion's body.

New Times (L.A.) Robert Wilonsky

It punishes rather than entertains; it condescends, it offends, it loathes its audience.

Rolling Stone Peter Travers

We have to suffer through two hours of this rancid summer cheese.