The Mummy Returns

Directed by Stephen Sommers
2001, Universal Pictures
2 hours, 9 minutes

Rating: ★★☆☆☆

After watching The Mummy, it seemed inevitable that I would watch the other films in The Mummy franchise. I didn’t expect much, given what I remember of the franchise, and I guess The Mummy Returns didn’t disappoint in that regard. It only makes sense insofar that it’s an attempt at building a franchise, using Dwayne Johnson to fill in seats in what is ultimately a nonsensical carnival ride through colonialism, popular Egyptology, and so much racism. The CGI even takes a nosedive from the first film, culminating into the infamously bad CGI of The Scorpion King—modelled after Johnson. Not worth the rewatch, except maybe for the sake of nostalgia.