Tom Hanks and director Ron Howard return for this disappointing sequel to their hit 2006 adaptation of The Da Vinci Code. This time Harvard professor Robert Langdon (Hanks) is called upon after the murder of a top physicist is linked to secret society the Illuminati and its plot to kidnap four cardinals and blow up the Vatican. Using his expert knowledge, Langdon must piece together various ancient clues across Rome to locate the cardinals and the bomb. Dan Brown's original bestseller brimmed over with murder, betrayal and religious conspiracies, yet the transfer to film has only emphasised the farcical aspects, with crucial timings unconvincing, too little urgency in key scenes and a supporting cast of caricatures. Alluring sidekick Ayelet Zurer (Munich) is no substitute for Audrey Tautou, giving too much weight to the corny dialogue, and even Armin Mueller-Stahl overdoes the villainy as a senior cleric. Still, the views around Rome are breathtaking, Hanks rises above the material with an easy charm, and Ewan McGregor as an earnest papal aide does his best to bring plausibility to the overblown proceedings.

Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is recruited by the Vatican to investigate the apparent return of the Illuminati – a secret, underground organization – after four cardinals are kidnapped on the night of the papal conclave.