Franchise-launching film doesn’t do much on its own.
While it doesn’t succeed on its own terms, The Mummy does accomplish one central goal: launch the Dark Universe franchise of monsters and ghouls. In this, it’s mission accomplished.
One would think a Tom Cruise vehicle, backed by tons of fancy visuals, would be a can’t-miss proposition.
It misses.
Even Russell Crow as the surreptitious antagonist can’t save what ends up being a movie long on arbitrary action but short on actual audience engagement.
Cruise plays Nick, somehow both a soldier and treasure hunter, who finds the lost tomb of Ahmanet (Sofia Boutella). This Egyptian princess has a dark backstory, complete with patricide and fratricide. She has become pure evil and thus had to be buried in hopes of being forgotten.
Nick is accompanied by his partner Chris (Jake Johnson) and terse love interest Jenny (Annabelle Wallis) as the unearthed coffin is sent to England. Of course, all hell breaks loose on the way back, resulting in the revelation that Nick has been cursed.
The Mummy’s Curse.
The result of this un-blessing is a resurrection that is shrugged off as just another day in the office. Nick is simultaneously the victim buffeted by the events the surround him as well as the hero set to save the day. It’s an odd combination that never feels right.
The franchise building starts with the introduction of Crowe’s Henry Jekyll. He runs a secret society dedicated to fighting evil, and yes, has an evil Mr. Hyde waiting to come out. Vampires and fish-men are hinted at, and by the end of the film, even the next mummy movie is laid out.
Nothing about The Mummy is innovative, but the promise of monster movies of old being rebooted is still an intriguing proposition. Nothing about this film will stop that train from barrelling down the track. Here’s to hoping more thought and care go into the next release or else it’s going to be a dark universe indeed.
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