--- title: "National Treasure: Book of Secrets: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/national-treasure-book-of-secrets/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/national-treasure-book-of-secrets" critics_score: 41 critics_reviews: 13 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # National Treasure: Book of Secrets (2007): what the critics said Critics' score 41 from 13 reviews: 1 positive, 4 mixed, 8 negative. Most critics find National Treasure: Book of Secrets a disappointing sequel, with familiar adventure machinery replacing much of the original’s charm. The praise centres on the cast’s comic contributions and, in the more sympathetic reviews, a pace brisk enough to carry the implausible plotting. Nicolas Cage’s broader moments, Helen Mirren’s comedy and Justin Bartha’s throwaway lines provide some relief, though enthusiasm for the characters is far from shared. The main complaints concern repetitive plotting, uninteresting puzzles and action that grows forced or tiring. Critics differ over whether the silliness remains enjoyable: The AV Club finds it infectious and entertaining despite the length, while Digital Spy considers the convoluted story actively boring. Mirren’s presence also divides opinion, drawing appreciation for her comic contribution but objections to the role itself. The spread is wide, then, but the balance is firmly negative: only a minority find enough charm to excuse the formula. ## The AV Club — Nathan Rabin Rating B-. 20 December 2007. Rabin finds the sequel goofy and entertaining, though overlong and tiring near the end. He especially praises Nicolas Cage’s hammy comic moments and the film’s infectious silliness. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/national-treasure-book-of-secrets-1798203564) ## RogerEbert.com Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). The review’s verdict cannot be determined from the accessible page. No praise or complaint from the critic is available to report. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/national-treasure-book-of-secrets-2007) ## Radio Times — Karen Krizanovich Rating 3/5. The review presents the sequel as an implausible but star-studded adventure. It singles out Helen Mirren for bringing comedy to the proceedings. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-y76noh/national-treasure-book-of-secrets/) ## Total Film — Total Film Rating 3/5. 8 February 2008. The review finds the sequel zippier and more entertaining than the original, though still preposterous, and calls it slick family-sized escapism. It praises the brisk pace for carrying the film past its plot holes and implausibilities. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/national-treasure-book-of-secrets-review/) ## Slant Magazine — Nick Schager Rating 1.5/4. 20 December 2007. Schager finds the sequel a brisk but incoherent collection of cheap thrills. He faults its shallow characters and singles out Helen Mirren’s undignified role for particular complaint. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/national-treasure-book-of-secrets/) ## Los Angeles Times — Kevin Crust Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 21 December 2007. Crust finds the sequel increasingly forced and says it wears out its welcome quickly. He singles out its repetitive formula and overblown escalation, while noting that Justin Bartha gets the best throwaway lines. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-dec-21-et-treasure21-story.html) ## Screen Daily — Tim Grierson Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 21 December 2007. Grierson’s opening verdict presents the sequel as derivative of its influences and its predecessor. He singles out that lack of originality as the central complaint. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/national-treasure-book-of-secrets/4036345.article) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 8 February 2008. Bradshaw finds the adventure occasionally entertaining but mostly tired. He objects to its semi-serious conspiracy theories, especially its portrayal of Britain as responsible for America’s slave-owning past. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2008/feb/08/actionandadventure.thriller) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Kirk Honeycutt Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 20 December 2007. Honeycutt finds the sequel a letdown, repeating the original with new locations and little of its charm. He faults its implausible, stunt-driven story and says the popcorn fun has disappeared. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/national-treasure-book-secrets-159080/) ## Variety — Justin Chang Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 20 December 2007. Chang finds the sequel a disappointing exercise in diminishing returns, with less clever puzzles and mechanical character interactions. He notes that Helen Mirren and Ed Harris add welcome star power, but the script’s weak humor and perfunctory treatment of history drag the film down. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2007/film/markets-festivals/national-treasure-book-of-secrets-1117935689/) ## Empire — Andrew Osmond Fi1m's normalised score 20/100 (inferred from the text). 1 February 2008. Osmond finds the sequel turgid and humourless, with a muddled adventure that loses sight of plot and characters. He singles out the finale’s Goonies-like echoes as offering some spark, though with fewer thrills and weaker villains. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/national-treasure-book-secrets-review/) ## Eye for Film — Jennie Kermode Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 31 January 2008. Kermode finds it entertaining and charming, though less distinctive and emotionally effective than its predecessor. She praises the likable characters and accomplished cast, while faulting the uninteresting puzzles and familiar imitation of Indiana Jones. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/national-treasure-book-of-secrets-film-review-by-jennie-kermode) ## Digital Spy — Alex Fletcher Fi1m's normalised score 10/100 (inferred from the text). 4 February 2008. The critic considers the film a painful, deeply disappointing failure. They single out its baffling, needlessly twist-filled plot as a major reason it becomes boring. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a88611/national-treasure-book-of-secrets/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/national-treasure-book-of-secrets.md