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The unlikely twosome of Disney and Jerry Bruckheimer get into bed for this Da Vinci Code–esque thriller (it’s even steeped in the lore of the Templar Knights) that employs icons of American heritage (the Declaration of Independence and the Liberty Bell) as scavenger-hunt clues in the quest for the ultimate trove. Few surprises, though, await history scholar Benjamin Franklin Gates (Nicolas Cage) and rival Ian Howe (Sean Bean) as they dash from DC to Philadelphia and New York to secure the booty. The heist of the Declaration offers the one enthralling moment, and the chemistry between Cage and Diane Kruger (Helen of Troy) as a National Archives Nazi adds some sass. Harvey Keitel and Jon Voight are pleasing but largely wasted as the cantankerous FBI agent on the case and Ben’s father. Bean charms as the devious baddie, and Justin Bartha, who was the only redeeming aspect in Gigli, serves up the punch lines as Ben’s nebbish sidekick. Director Jon Turteltaub however, limits himself to the Bruckheimer format: lots of trumped-up flash cutting, improbable dances with death, and a series of thunderous explosions. Now you know what to expect when Dan Brown’s novel hits the big screen. (100 minutes)
BY TOM MEEK
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