What could possibly be cooler than a movie about a librarian?

One starring Noah Wyle, of course!

The Plot and Stuff

Flynn Carsen (Noah Wyle) is prematurely passed through his latest graduate degree, which kicks him out of school, unable to apply for a new program for months. For the first time in his life, he has to go out into the real world. He has a ton of degrees and a head full of facts, but he lives with his mother and has no job and no girl. Two lacks which bother his mother much more than they bother him.

He receives a mysterious self-writing letter that invites him to apply for a position at the Metropolitan Public Library. Intrigued, and in search of a job anyway, he goes for an interview. The library is grand and large and impressive. As is the line of applicants.

After being interviewed by Jane Curtin and Bob Newhart, he becomes The Librarian. Not that he has any clue what the job entails.

He's introduced to the top secret, really cool, underground section of the library. Books everywhere, and artifacts everywhere. There he meets Excalibur, opens Pandora's box, is nearly electrocuted by the Ark of the Covenant, and destroys the Holy Grail. In short, his job is really, really cool.

It's also really, really secret. So all he can tell his mother is that he's a librarian. She is less than impressed.

When a group of thieves break in and steal the Spear that pierced Jesus's side on the cross, Flynn learns what The Librarian's real job is: to keep the artifacts and the world safe. Thus begins his quest to recover all three pieces of the spear before the bad guys can get ahold of them. Hitler, after all, only had one third of the spear himself. Great power in the wrong hands. Well, it's bad.

He's aided in his quest by a woman who is the brawn to his brain. A quest which starts in the Amazon jungle.

Will they recover the spear? Will they escape the bad guys? Will his mother be proud of him?

The DVD

This was a made-for-TV movie and I was disappointed to learn it wasn't based on a book! I was sure it had to have been. I just watched the DVD version and reputedly there is extra footage. If there was, I really could not pick it out. Was it the tribal dance he did in the hut? Was it the line about Dungeons and Dragons?

The DVD had an introduction by Noah Wyle that was relatively short, but kind of interesting. It sounds like they really had fun making this movie. I would watch the introduction only after you've seen the movie. But I really hate spoilers, so I may be biased there.

There were also behind the scenes and special effects extras which didn't interest me. Not the best extras on a DVD ever, but adequate. Even though it was borrowed from the library (for irony's sake?), I still would like to own my own copy.

My Thoughts

I love the acting in this. Every little facial expression is amusing. Bob Newhart's typical stammering gets a touch annoying when he's been on screen awhile, but that's the only real negative I have to say about it. Even if you're not a Newhart fan, you'll probably appreciate some of the things he gets to do in this movie. (Yes, I'm being all mysterious.)

Oh yes, and Orson from Desperate Housewives (Kyle MacLachlan) is the main bad guy. And a pretty convincing one.

This is a fun, amusing movie with action, adventure, and even a bit of romance.

All it's missing is some pirates.

Good date movie. Good family movie. So check it out.

If you enjoy it, then check out the sequel, The Librarian: Return to King Solomon's Mines.

But don't bother applying to be the next Librarian. That job is mine.

Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Fit for Friday Evening
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children up Ages 8