Angels and Whatever

If you’re looking for a controversial but fun summer blockbuster to spend some cash on this weekend, “Angels and Demons” isn’t it. Rather, it is an intellectual puzzle staged around a backdrop of particle accelerators and papal laws. Confused yet?

This sequel to the much-discussed “Da Vinci Code” is another story of symbologist Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks), as he is summoned to the Vatican to help track down an antimatter bomb that has been laced somewhere in the holy city. He must track down clues found in various sculptures around Rome, following a path to find the Illuminati, who are trying to get revenge on the church for years of persecution.

Filling out the cast are the attractive female sidekick (Ayelet Zurer) and the charismatic priest (Ewan McGregor). The chemistry between the actors and the high caliber of performances from these Hollywood powerhouses are enough to keep an otherwise slow movie afloat. 

The story takes place after the death of the current pope, and during the election of the next. The movie plays out a bit like a documentary on “Everything You Wanted To Know About Catholic Rules and Ceremonies, but Were Too Afraid to Ask.” Luckily, most of this arcane knowledge is fairly interesting, and intertwined with enough action to keep everything moving smoothly.

It is certainly a better film than the “Da Vinci Code,” but without the added flavor of potential heresy, it’s not quite as fascinating. Hanks gives his usual high-caliber performance, and McGregor is fun to watch, but Ron Howard seems to be resting on his laurels. Nothing in this film pushes the envelope or progresses past the previous film.

A mildly entertaining fluff film, it’s a decent way to spend a couple of hours, if you’re into that sort of thing. While it’s nice to see a movie geared toward the thinking man every once in a while, this one falls into that dreaded no man’s land of . “Meh.”