Universal’s Dark Universe has arrived and it’s bringing all of the classic monsters with it, beginning with the rise of The Mummy. And I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but Brendan Fraser is no where in sight. Instead, the charismatic, non-stop Tom Cruise is the one running, yelling, and clashing with the undead. The adventure, action, and wit carries on, as does the crapola it’s wrapped in.
Ancient Egyptian Princess Ahmanet (Sofia Boutella) has daddy issues, always garnering for his attention. But then he has a son. Having her destiny ripped away right in front of her leads to some atrocious evil being unleashed that far exceeds a woman scorned. Naturally, the only spot for this tatted-up, demon diva is entombed deep in the desert. However, as Dr. Henry Jekyll (Russell Crowe) reminds us, “the past can’t stay buried forever.” Bingo!
Fast forward to present day Iraq, Nick Morton (Cruise) and his best bud Chris Vail (Jake Johnson) are dashing hustlers where their business is booming on the black market. Being guided by a map he stole from Jenny Halsey (Annabelle Wallis) during a one night stand, Nick dumbly unearths Ahmanet. She can finally catch some fresh air now. And lucky for Nick, she wants him all to herself. Well, not so much him as the body he lives in. Where else can her boyfriend, the god of the dead, set up shop? Obviously, the woman is lonely.
Nick ain’t getting rid of Jenny that easy, and her boss, Dr. Jekyll with sprinkles of Mr. Hyde, has plans of his own. He’s the Nick Fury of this Dark Universe, you’ll never know where or when he’ll show up next. Or who the hell he might be. All involved must find a way to lay Ahmanet down for good. Witnessing what she can do with a blade and her sloppy kisses that take more than your breath away—it won’t be easy.
The Mummy is rolling in campy fun, but with a top-notch cast that tries to make this reboot more legit. It’s a valiant effort with a mixed bag that’s neither full of success or failure. Cruise may not be the best guy for the job, but his dedication is undeniable. Director Alex Kurtzman, who has written for franchises such as Mission Impossible and Transformers, is working overtime to entertain and scare us, all while keeping it light and funny. Sounds like a daunting task, and he’s probably still exhausted as I write this.
Not all of what Kurtzman brings to life on-screen is dead and gone. The Mummy is a thrill ride, just a bemired one with bumps along the way. I’ll admit, this may not be the kick-starter the Dark Universe wants or needs. Nevertheless, the fact remains there’s more of a story to tell and I’m not giving up on the horror cinematic event it aspires to be. Keep them creatures creepin’ I say!
Brandon Vick is a member of The Music City Film Critics’ Association and the Southeastern Film Critics Association, the resident film critic of the SoBros Network, and the star of The Vick’s Flicks Podcast. Follow him on Twitter @SirBrandonV and be sure to search #VicksFlicks for all of his latest movie reviews.
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