For 6 generations, Ben Gates' family have searched for a legendary hoarde of Templar treasure hidden in pre-revolutionary America, their only clue a riddle entrusted to the family by the last surviving signatory of the Declaration of Independence.
So far, they have failed to find any trace of it but while his father has bitterly abandoned the quest, Ben has spent his whole life on it. Now, with his computer-whizz sidekick Riley and fresh investment from wealthy but shadowy patron Ian Howe, he has suddenly made a breakthrough.
The trouble is the clues now indicate there is a secret map encrypted on the back of the Declaration of Independence and, knowing they will never be granted access to run tests on such an important document, Ian plans to steal it. When Ben refuses to be a party to the theft, they part ways explosively and suddenly a treacherous race is on.
Believing that Ian will destroy the Declaration in his attempts to unlock the map, and unable to make the authorities take the risk seriously, Ben and Riley have no choice but to try and steal the document themselves to protect it. When both parties choose the same night to make their attempts, they all find themselves on the run from the law and locked in a twisting game of cross and double-cross.
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Cage is a good choice as Ben Gates, lending just the enough of his usual quirks to keep his character from becoming formulaic. Justin Bartha is pleasantly restrained as the comedy relief. Diane Kruger, as the innocent bystander expert, manages better than she did in "Troy" (perhaps not an enormous accomplishment) and Sean Bean by now is the King of the bastard-bad-guy quip. In fact, all of the cast shine, save for a disinterested Jon Voight, who wastes his role as Ben's father and the lets the side down into the bargain.
"National Treasure" is really a sort of modern day "Indiana Jones"-lite. Without much blood or real evil. Or even much overseas travel. It's not as spectacular as it should have been and there's actually little enough bang for your bucks, but it's still moderately intelligent, fast-paced and has a few clever twists and touches along the way.
Not an epic for the ages, but a couple of hours of decent entertainment and well worth the price of admission.
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