For the requisite sequel, the locale shifts from N.Y. to D.C., which opens the door to some new characters and creatures (e.g., Albert Einstein bobblehead dolls, which, when brought to life, inconceivably contain Einstein’s actual brain), along with some old ones packed up at the Natural History Museum for storage at the Smithsonian, while the human hero, Ben Stiller, backtracks from a lucrative career as an infomercial huckster (the glow-in-the-dark flashlight) to reclaim his true niche as a night watchman. Of the new, Amy Adams as a dashing Amelia Earhart and Hank Azaria as a lisping nefarious pharaoh — or more accurately, animated wax figures of these — earn high marks for indefatigable professionalism in hopeless circumstances. With Owen Wilson, Steve Coogan, Robin Williams, Christopher Guest, Bill Hader; directed by Shawn Levy. (2009) — Duncan Shepherd
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