'CHAMBER' MAKES NO SECRET OF HORMONAL SURGES.

Byline: Bob Strauss Film Critic

IN ``HARRY POTTER and the Chamber of Secrets,'' the young wizard-in-training (Daniel Radcliffe) and his two best mates at sorcery school, Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson), are all a year older. Every parent should know what that means: Their adventures turn ruder, rowdier and palpably more alarming.

Although very much like the first movie based on J.K. Rowling's phenomenal fantasy best sellers, this second go-round possesses a quite pleasing, headlong thrust and a likably delinquent attitude. Although we're run through many of the same set-ups as before - transitioning from home to Hogwarts, reintroducing all the magical characters, sniffing out some evil force that's haunting the venerable witchcraft school, Quidditch - much less time is wasted explaining all the supernatural folderol that the introductory movie necessarily had to lay out. This one is pretty much one goofy, scary, gross or exhilarating thing after another.

Which is probably the best that can be expected from a series that, whatever its popularity, rarely incorporates an original idea in its myth and fairy tale-inspired scenarios. For all the fun and funny antics the kids muddle through on their way to solving the dark secret of the title chamber, the movie fails to build any real intrigue or resonance.

Joyriding in dad's flying car, getting whomped by a belligerent willow, becoming (literally) petrified, exploring the girls' bathroom (which, of course, doesn't need to be haunted to be daunting but is spooked anyway), surrounded by superspiders, slashing at a giant serpent straight out of Siegfried lore (one of the few legendary sources Rowling failed to plunder the first time out) ... it's all wondrous in its way, while always feeling kind of the same.

This is the same experience one gets from most movies directed by Chris Columbus, whether ``Home Alone'' or ``Mrs. Doubtfire'' or ``Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.'' The tone - and, more importantly, the ambition - of the piece is set in the first few minutes and never varies afterward. This makes for very reassuring entertainment (which, despite the hysterical accusations that it promotes devil worship, is what the whole Harry Potter industry is all about). But it leaves very little room for the conjuring of inspired movie magic.

It is gratifying, though, that the keynotes of ``Chamber'' are weirder and more brutal than those of ``Sorcerer's Stone,'' and that more of the wit that makes Rowling's books so readable has made it to the screen this time.

All three lead children have grown nicely into their roles, even if Columbus' only notion of directing young actors is to have them widen their eyes whenever possible. Radcliffe's Harry is more assertive - and violent when situations call for it. Grint's Ron Weasley goes much further, and more amusingly, down the road of prepubescent confusion. And Emma Watson has learned to throttle-back on the facial mugging, which makes brainy Hermione Granger come off even smarter - and cuter, too.

The new characters are generally delightful, no matter how evil or deceptive they may turn out to be. The biggest kick comes from the school's egotistical new defense-against-the-dark-arts professor, Gilderoy Lockhart, played by a foppishly attired Kenneth Branagh who seems to have perfected a potion from William Shatner's self-promotion chromosome.

Branagh gets a run for his funny money from the self-loathing, computer-generated elf Dobby. Also amusing is that ghost in the ladies' room, Moaning Myrtle, played with lonely-girl panache by Shirley Henderson.

Everybody's favorite British bad guy, Jason Isaacs, embodies the snooty Lucius Malfoy, father of Harry's school rival Draco (Tom Fenton) and a pretentious poster creep for full-blooded wizardly prejudice against all conjurors with Muggle genes.

As for the returning team, Maggie Smith, Robbie Coltrane and Alan Rickman all have their moments. The sentimental payoff, of course, comes from the expanded interaction between Harry and Hogwarts headmaster Dumbledore, whom the recently departed Richard Harris invested with some real mentorly magic.

All of these elements make ``Chamber'' either nirvana or a tolerable long sit, depending on your personal degree of devotion. Perhaps the best thing about this one is the knowledge that it's the last Columbus intends to direct. The third installment will be helmed by Alfonso Cuaron, the altogether more imaginative master of child movie fantasy who made the sublime ``A Little Princess'' - and who's also graced us with the raunchy ``Y Tu Mama Tambien,'' which, as the Potter kids approach adolescence, should really give parents something to worry about.

HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS - Three stars

(PG: violence, children in jeopardy)

Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Kenneth Branagh, Tom Felton, Christian Coulson, John Cleese, Robbie Coltrane, Richard Harris, Shirley Henderson, Jason Isaacs, Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith, Julie Walters.

Director: Chris Columbus.

Running time: 2 hr. 41 min.

Playing: Citywide.

In a nutshell: The magical kids are a year older and getting into rougher, scarier and funnier trouble. Otherwise, more of the same stuff, with extra helpings of slugs, spiders and snakes.

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The young wizard Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) has more chilling adventures in his second year at Hogwarts.