This snappy comedy sequel sees night watchman-turned-entrepreneur Larry Daley (Ben Stiller) return to his old haunts at New York's Museum of Natural History only to find that his exhibit pals (Owen Wilson and Steve Coogan) are headed for permanent storage at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington. He's summoned by a phone call from the bowels of the archive warning of a plot by egotistical Egyptian prince Kahmunrah (Hank Azaria on top form) to take over the museum. It's all fun and games as Larry exchanges quips with Kahmunrah and his cohorts (Napoleon, Al Capone and Ivan the Terrible - or Ivan the Awesome as he would have it), falls for Amelia Earhart (Amy Adams), takes advice from Einstein and hides inside Eisenstadt's famous VJ Day "kissing sailor" photo. With a broader scope and more imagination than the original, this is entertaining, educational family viewing - irreverent and clever if shamelessly anachronistic. The performances are pitched for laughs and pathos, yet the real stars are the special effects, which are even more delightful than before.