Where to watch The Mummy
2 1/2 Stars
Brendan Fraser makes for a splendid swashbuckler in this old-fashioned action picture that owes more to the Indian Jones series than its namesake. The film is stuffed with CGI elements and lots of talk about curses, hidden treasure, and of course, mummies. Director Stephen Sommers has crafted a sometimes exciting but mostly bland summer blockbuster that did oversized box-office business in the theatrical window between the release of The Matrix and The Phantom Menace. The unquestionable chemistry between the lead actors is the best thing about this otherwise lackluster reboot.
When an archaeology expedition team unwittingly resurrects a cursed mummy (Arnold Vosloo), it’s up to adventurer Rick O’Connell (Brendan Fraser) and a clumsy Egyptologist (Rachel Weisz) to stop the evil spirit. What begins as a treasure hunt in the City of the Dead soon turns into a plot that could cost every last life in Egypt.
The Mummy is perhaps the best film that could have been made from the source material and other cinematic inspirations. However, at over two hours in length, the picture could be chopped by 15 minutes without losing anything essential. Audiences didn’t seem to mind any of these quibbles as the movie ended up in eighth place on the list of 1999’s highest grossing films.
Director: Stephen Sommers
Stars: Brendan Fraser, Rachel Weisz, John Hannah