Nicholas Cage returns for a second episode as intrepid historian and conspiracy theorist Benjamin Franklin Gates in National Treasure: Book of Secrets. Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer for Disney, the film series travels along the same path as The Da Vinci Code, bundling together various myths and folklore of Americana, and packaging them for the popcorn-munching cinema crowd.

Along with Cage, there's Jon Voight, playing Cage's character's father. Diane Kruger provides a love interest. Helen Mirren joins the cast as Cage's mother, and Ed Harris is a shadowy character.

According to the previews, Gates is out to obtain the "president's secret book" in order to absolve his great-great-grandfather of having any involvement in the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln.

The press preview for National Treasure: Book of Secrets was on Wednesday, too late for my production deadlines, so I have no review. The first film has a 41% (rotten) rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and as sequels go, I have a hard time believing this one will be any better.

Also opening

• Alvin and the Chipmunks - Another dimly remembered American cartoon series is given a reboot with 3D computer animation. Jason Lee shaves off his "My Name is Earl" moustache to play the Chipmunks' human victim, with Mr. Show funnyman David Cross cashing a paycheque as a smarmy manager. Mainly, the Chipmunks are generally only remembered around Christmastime, when their annoyingly shrill song "Christmas Don't Be Late" is played. Sure to please the kids, and annoy the heck out of parents.
• Feast of Love - An ensemble romantic drama stars Morgan Freeman as a kindly college professor, who's always on hand at a coffee shop to dispense sage advice to the various customers and employees who are having trouble with their love lives. They include the shop's owner, Greg Kinnear, whose wife (Selma Blair) has run off with another woman. Jane Alexander and Radha Mitchell also star. It has a 42% (rotten) rating at Rotten Tomatoes, though performances by Freeman and Alexander as husband and wife have been praised. At the Lido only.
• Hairspray - Starring John Travolta in drag, the 2007 film of the 2002 musical adaptation of John Waters' 1988 campy cult hit is back for a limited run at House.
• Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem - The second film in a vast franchise that combines the baddies from the Alien and Predator sci-fi horror films, literally combines the Alien and the Predator. They have mated! These fearsome "Predaliens" land in a small American town, and proceed to make it even more sparsely populated. A loner "wolf" Predator hopes to wipe out this rogue race of bloodthirsty outer-space beings. Opens on December 25. Merry Christmas!