Rip roaring throwback kicks so much ass it hurts. The stellar cast brings it to a quick script that harkens back to a different time of escapism but an adventurous vibe that is pretty damn timeless. A couple English siblings (Rachel Weisz and John Hannah) get swept up into a mortally dangerous adventure when the brother swipes an Egyptian artifact from a displaced American. Within the antique is a map to the supposedly mythical Hamunaptra aka The City of the Dead. When their employer purposely burns off the location of the lost city, they track the American, Rick O’Connell, down to a prison in Cairo. His life on the line, said prisoner (Brendan Fraser) offers to take them to the dangerous place if they can get him out of his current pickle. Money talks and the next thing you know the group is off to find the treasure-filled location lost for generations. There’s a group of Americans lead by Rick’s former frenemy Beni (a scene-stealing Kevin J. O’Connor) also heading to Hamunaptra. Their curiosity and greed brings forth a shit-storm of biblical proportions when they awaken the ancient priest Imhotep who knew a little too much about some dark practices that could guarantee a longer than normal existence. Imhotep restores himself by feeding on the American explorers and gets right back to working towards raising his lost love from the dead, a plan that requires the beautiful Weisz as a sacrifice. It all comes to a climax in the mummy-filled tomb of Imhotep. There’s flesh-burrowing scarabs, casual racism, genuine laughs, various degrees of sex appeal and a level of charm you don’t often find in big Hollywood productions. Odes Fehr, Arnold Vosloo and Bernard Fox all leave a lasting impression. Brendan Fraser is somehow beyond dashing and becomes his own level of greatness. His Brendan Fraserness is off the charts.
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