The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (2008)

"The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor" is often held in very low regard by a large portion of the fanbase. It was met with a lukewarm reception on initial release, and time has not been kind to it. It's now at best considered mediocre by fans and general audiences, and at worst woof. Let's just say this isn't a well-liked film.

But is this stone cold reception deserved? In all honesty... I don't think it's that bad. Yes, I'm not ashamed to admit that while it isn't a particularly good film, it's still totally watchable and there's a quite a bit to like. It's decent enough dumb-fun. It's just unfortunately a bit of a rough ride to get to the good stuff.

The O'Connell family (Brendan Fraser, Maria Bello, John Hannah, Luke Ford) find themselves in a new adventure when the dreaded and fierce Chinese Dragon Emperor (Jet Li) is brought back from the grave, and seeks to take over the world with his terracotta army. And their journey will be filled with non-stop peril, including zombie warriors, enormous yeti and a shape-shifting foe!

While director Rob Cohen's name has been tainted by some troubling recent allegations, I have to say the film is typically well-shot and well-staged. It's very competently made. The musical score by Randy Edelman and John Debney is thrilling and heroic - especially the catchy main theme. The myriad of action set-pieces are consistently fun and thrilling. And the film actually has some decent jokes, typically involving the long-suffering Jonathan. (A certain painfully bad gag with a yak notwithstanding.)

I also enjoyed the cast for the most part. Particularly Fraser and Hannah, the only returning actors in this installment. Both are endlessly likeable and consistently charming. It's also a great deal of fun seeing Jet Li in a villainous role. He chews the scenery just right, and is quite menacing. And we even get a classy turn from the wonderful Michelle Yeoh as an ancient sorceress.

Where the film falters is its staggeringly predictable narrative and the dark shadow that the recasting of Evie cast over the proceedings. Written by the usually reliable Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, the movie is an absolute slave to formula, and it can make it a bit rough at times. And that's a shame, because Gough and Millar have delivered quality work in the past, contributing to films like "Shanghai Noon" and "Spider-Man 2." And I can't help but say it - Maria Bello just isn't quite the right match for Evie. Mainly in that she and Fraser lack that vital chemistry needed for the characters. Bello is a wonderful actress, but she just feels a little out of place. It's a real shame Rachel Weisz didn't come back. Her inclusion might have given the film the boost it needed.

But in the end, I honestly have to say that I feel the film has enough positive elements to outweigh the negatives. I enjoyed the action, loved the score and thought it was quite well-made. Like I said it's a totally watchable bit of dumb-fun. And for me, that was enough to make it worth seeing.

I'm giving it a solid 3 out of 5. (It's probably closer to a 3-and-a-half, but I don't know that I'd want to round up to a 4.) It's definitely the weakest of the trilogy. But I think it's still worth checking out at least once. Go in with an open mind and no pre-conceived notions, and you just might like it.

TedStixon