The key to the success of Dan Brown’s novels is less the quality of the writing than the enduring fascination people have with ancient, secretive institutions, which gives his narratives a page-turning pulpy energy that causes many to overlook any deficiencies in his writing. Unfortunately, what made the Da Vinci Code movie such a chore to sit through was the portentous storytelling and leaden filmmaking from Ron Howard, which drained the story of any charge it might have had (it’s one reason I prefer the National Treasure movies, which are just as silly but at least know that they are). But in Hollywood, money talks, and the huge haul taken in by Da Vinci gave the studios the mistaken impression that people wanted more of the same, and it looks like Angels and Demons picks up where its predecessor left off, with Tom Hanks, his ridiculous haircut, some Catholic conspiracy fun, and a female star to serve primarily as windowdressing- with all the dialogue in the trailer, couldn’t they have Ayalet Zurer do anything besides look worried? Everything is in place for a big summer blockbuster- everything, that is, but the fun. And aren’t movies like this supposed to be fun?