The world of the “National Treasure” movies is a wonderful place.

It takes mere minutes to get from D.C. to London. Mount Rushmore holds back a crystal clear lake. And it’s perfectly rational to have a wild car chase through the streets of London – in reverse.

So if you’re looking for a film with more realism, you might instead buy a ticket to “The Golden Compass.”

“Book of Secrets” is the second in what now can officially be labeled the “National Treasure” franchise. The first was an enjoyable trip through a colonial America version of “The Da Vinci Code” with the Indiana Jones of history nerds. Director Jon Turteltaub’s sequel doesn’t improve on his 2004 original, but it also does no harm.

In this episode, our hero, Benjamin Franklin Gates (Nicolas Cage), sets out to disprove allegations that one of his forebears conspired to kill Abraham Lincoln. To do so, Gates kidnaps the president to find the mythical “President’s Secret Book,” a journal passed from George Washington on down to the current commander in chief.

The supporting cast this go-round expands to include Helen Mirren and Ed Harris. She plays a scholar of indigenous languages; he’s the heavy who levels the murderous accusations at Gates’ great-great-grandpappy. But even though Mirren has little to do and Harris’ Southern accent comes and goes, they’re fine enough additions.

Aside from its byzantine goose chase, the most intriguing aspect of the film is how old-school it looks. CGI is used sparingly, accentuating rather than overpowering the action on screen.

“Book of Secrets” does suffer a minor case of the bloat that infected Disney’s “Pirates of the Caribbean” sequels. After the initial scene at Ford’s Theatre, the next 20 to 30 minutes of “Book of Secrets” are all talk, talk, talk, blah, blah, blah. Some of the exposition and postulating could have been trimmed with a little more show and a little less tell.

Despite these shortcomings, “Book of Secrets” is that rare action film that’s suitable for kids. It’s neither overpowering nor violent. It’s semi-educational but not dull.

Adults, however, should be prepared to turn off their brains. Some of “Book of Secrets” is quite ridiculous, but in a film that plays fast and loose with history and reality, nothing is impossible.

‘National Treasure: Book of Secrets’

3 stars

Director: Jon Turteltaub

Cast: Nicolas Cage, Diane Kruger, Jon Voight, Helen Mirren, Ed Harris

Rated: PG for some violence and action

Running time: 2:04