Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian isn't exactly a comedy of monumental proportions but as I watched it, I have to admit–I had a pretty good time. At the very least, it was considerably more entertaining than the first installment. Odd given that this movie isn't so much a sequel as it is a remake with a bigger budget and bigger star power.

In this follow-up to the 2006 box office hit, Larry Daley (Ben Stiller) has moved on from his duties as night manager at the Museum of Natural History and realized his dream of becoming an inventor. Daley is called back into action however, when he learns that his inanimate buddies–whom he hasn't made an effort to visit in quite a some time-- have been shipped from the Museum of Natural History to the legendary Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C. Daley infiltrates the Smithsonian in a bid to bust out his old friends, but first he must navigate his way through a massive collection of living, breathing museum artifacts. Artifacts that have been brought to life through the magical powers of a mythical tablet. Hoping to stop Daley in his quest is ancient Pharaoh Kahmunrah (Hank Azaria), a villainous soul with world domination on his mind.

The entire plot sounds pretty silly, and for the most part, it is. The thing is, Battle of the Smithsonian has great energy. When the film makers aren't dazzling the audience with high tech visual effects (watch for a spectacular sequence in which a hall of famed paintings come to life), they're throwing a comical heavy weight in your face. Battle of the Smithsonian boasts an impressive cast of funny people. Faces like Jonah Hill, Bill Hader, Owen Wilson, Steve Coogan, Robin Williams, Christopher Guest, Ricky Gervais, Jay Burachel, Craig Robinson, Brad Garrett, Eugene Levy, and the incomparable Clint Howard (I guess this is why he was unable to do Angels and Demons), pop up on screen at such an accelerated rate, that the audience will hardly have a chance to dwell on a moment that they didn't care for. And aside from the enormous cast, this film is also populated by a plethora of iconic cameos including Darth Vader, Oscar the Grouch, Al Capone, and a gigantic concrete Abraham Lincoln. Seriously, if Irwin Allen had produced comedies in the 70's, they probably would have looked like Battle of the Smithsonian.

Of the massive comedic cast, there are two big stand outs. Bill Hader is a scream as the nutty, larger than life General Custer, but it's the adorable Amy Adams who steals the show as historical icon Amelia Earhart. While Night at The Museum: Battle of Smithsonian is clearly a case of grand visual style over substance, Adams really stands out. She brings a classic, spunky, 30's vibe to her role, and her final moments with Stiller are far more effective than they really should be.

Battle of the Smithsonian isn't exactly plot driven, and it certainly offers up a few groan worthy moments (I could have done without Hank Azaria's irritating lisp, and I'll also try and forget about those flying cupid statues voiced by the Jonas Brothers), but overall, this is a fun time for the entire family.