Night at the Museum 2 (PG)

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This comedy recycles its silliness about museum exhibits coming to life at night, but shifts the setting to the Smithsonian collection of museums in Washington DC.

Ben Stiller returns as Larry Daley, now an inventor who wants to save many exhibits from the oblivion of deep storage. At the Smithsonian he confronts a lisping megalomaniacal pharaoh (Hank Azaria), who has Ivan the Terrible, Napoleon and Al Capone on his side, while Larry has help from an irrepressible Amelia Earhart (Amy Adams) and an inept General George Custer (Bill Hader).

Also on hand are Robin Williams as Teddy Roosevelt, Owen Wilson and Steve Coogan as a miniature cowboy and a Roman centurion, Ricky Gervais as a museum director and Jonah Hill as a museum security guard.

The real star, though, is special-effects director Bill Orr, whose team brings to life a giant octopus and a balloon dog plus a painting and a famous photograph  and much more.  These injections keep boredom at bay in a family-friendly entertainment children will most enjoy.

• Reviewed by David Manning; DVDs for review supplied by United Video, Nelson.