THE MUMMY RETURNS

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By definition sequels are generally doomed to an inferior status to their original predecessor. In the case of writer/director Stephen Sommers' return to the scene of his criminally silly yet hugely popular "The Mummy" (1999) is a computer-generated stinker of a dud.

Once again the 3000 year-old "Imhotep" (Mr. Mummy) gets his skin back, in the guise of golden age actor Arnold Vosloo, to attempt an Egyptian power play that will bring down a circa 1933 apocalypse of destruction.

This spectacle is made possible by some archaeological pilfering by Egyptologist Evelyn O'Connell (Rachel Weisz), her dim-witted playboy brother Jonathan (John Hannah), her swashbuckling hubby Rick (Brendan Fraser). and the couple's 8-year-old son Alex (Freddie Booth).

There's a lump of "E.T.," a dash of "Star Wars," a spritz of "Lawrence of Arabia," a dose of "Indiana Jones," and not a trace of the horrific elements that made the 1932 original version of "The Mummy" (with Boris Karloff as the monster) a massive achievement in horror.

Oh but for the days of Boris Karloff's great talent.

Rated PG-13. 121 mins.