Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian

Virtually plotless (even the last film’s deadbeat-dad drama is shorn), this sequel to 2006’s half-billion-dollar grosser might as well be called More Ancient Stuff Flies Toward Your Face. Among the few noncomputerized elements, Amy Adams distracts mightily in skintight, flesh-colored aviatrix pants as Amelia Earhart, an unearned, moxie-oozing romantic partner to Ben Stiller’s former museum guard, trapped in the D.C. complex after dark. When the movie slows to take in the actual splendor of the Smithsonian (rarely), it’s hard to complain too mightily. Whatever gets the kids in the door, right?