National Treasure: Book of Secrets reminds me of a sequel from the '80s, where all the filmmakers tried to do was rehash everything from the first movie, hoping  that would pass muster with the audience. This film is  pretty much the same as its predecessor, except that the principle characters are well-acquainted with each other this time, so they can cut right to the chase.

Puzzles seem to be solved even more easily here;  Nicolas Cage does his usual Nicolas Cage thing; there's a car chase plus a lot of sneaking around and so forth. As before, the saving grace of the movie involves how it seems to embrace its own nerdiness by making heroes out of people whose most admirable attribute is their vast knowledge of the facts of the past.

Book of Secrets is passable entertainment, a family-friendly globe trot that features, as its most impressive set piece, a trap in which four people must balance a giant board resting only on a central pivot. Outside of that, little seems to be designed to make a lasting impression, though the movie may achieve its modest goal of providing mild fun. (Capsule review)

(Released by Walt Disney Studios and rated "PG" for some violence and action.)

Review also posted at www.windowtothemovies.com.