Film review: Night at the museum, Secret of the tomb (PG)

It’s time to say goodbye.

The third chapter of the blockbusting Night At The Museum franchise has lost two of its greatest special effects - Mickey Rooney and Robin Williams - in the past 12 months. So it’s fitting that Secret Of The Tomb should be an action-packed adventure punctuated with dewy-eyed farewells and warm-hearted reminiscence.

Shawn Levy’s picture is a fitting swansong, reuniting most of the protagonists from the original for a final transatlantic hurrah.

The script adds father-son bonding to the mix and a new Neanderthal called Laa (Ben Stiller), who is partial to munching on polystyrene foam. For the most part though, familiarity with the series’ larger-than-life characters breeds contentment.

The film milks our affection for the characters without exhausting our good will.

There’s nothing innovative in the third film but good humour and sweetness prevail, and the script continues to have fun juxtaposing the modern and ancient worlds.

When Williams’ waxwork President acknowledges the end is nigh and remarks, “You have to let us go,” it’s hard not to get a little lump in your throat.

Star rating: 6/10

Released December 19