by kellie abrahamson kabrahamson1@aol.com
B+ Rated PG 108 min.
An interesting question is posed in Ben Stiller’s new film Night at the Museum: what happens when the museum is closed for the night? Much like Disney’s Toy Story, you may be surprised by what happens when no one is watching. Night at the Museum is in theaters everywhere this Friday.
Larry Daley (Stiller) and his ex-wife Erica (Kim Raver) have remained friendly since their divorce but things are now on shaky ground. Larry is an idea man and can think up wonderful ways to make money but never seems to follow through for one reason or another. With no money to pay the rent, Larry keeps getting kicked out of apartments in the city and his ex is concerned that his constant moving is bad for their son Nick (Jake Cherry), who is desperate for some stability in his life. Afraid he may not be able to see his son anymore, Larry bites the bullet and gets “a real job” as a night watchman for the Museum of Natural History.
After receiving brief, cryptic instructions about his duties from his kindly predecessor (Dick Van Dyke), Larry winds up having the whole place to himself one night into the job. All is going well until around midnight when Larry notices something isn’t quite right: the dinosaur bones that stand at the museum’s entrance have disappeared. A quick survey of the building shows that nothing in the museum is in its proper place because everything is alive. Statues walk and talk, figurines in dioramas climb out of their cases and wage epic battles with one another, lions from the Africa room roam the halls looking for prey and Neanderthals try desperately to make fire. With the help of a wax statue of Teddy Roosevelt (Robin Williams), Larry manages to get all of the exhibits back in their displays before the sun comes up and the incredible magic wears off. While rounding up museum inhabitants each night was not the job Larry signed up for, he sticks it out for his son’s sake and ends up uncovering a sinister plot that only he, and his new friends, can put a stop to.
After viewing the trailer for Night at the Museum, I wanted to see it but I was afraid my kids may be too young. A toothy dinosaur skeleton chasing a security guard seemed just a tad too frightening for my little guys so I decided they should probably sit this one out. After seeing the film, however, I now know the film is not nearly as scary as it seemed. In fact, if your kids can tolerate the trailer without being scared, then they should be fine. I won’t give too much away but the terrifying T-Rex is anything but. The story itself is a lot of fun. Granted, there are plot holes the size of an Easter Island Head, but if you can allow yourself to let those slide you may be pleasantly surprised by what the flick has to offer. It’s got plenty of action to keep older kids and adults entertained and a handful of goofy slapstick gags that will have younger kids rolling in the aisles.
Admittedly, Ben Stiller’s acting can get a little grating but here he dials it back a bit, giving parents a chance to enjoy his antics without the need of an aspirin midway through. Still, those who dislike the comedic stylings of Mr. Stiller, who does do a couple of his patented angry man freak outs, may want to skip this one in theaters (perhaps having access to a mute button will be enough to garner a rental when the time comes). That said, because I am a fan of the “Frat Pack,” I was not once bothered by the acting in the film and was quite pleased with the celebrity cameos the film offered. Mickey Rooney, Dick Van Dyke, Ricky Gervais, Steve Coogan, Paul Rudd and Owen Wilson all make appearances and are quite funny. It’s also important to note that the film’s setting and message of embracing and learning from history are both nice bonuses that may actually have your kids interested in visiting MOSH once the movie is over. That alone is well worth the cost of admission!
Between this and the delightful Charlotte’s Web, families have a nice selection of quality films to choose from this week. Night at the Museum is not nearly as heartwarming as the fuzzy piggy tale, but it’s funny enough to please the whole family. And, who knows, with a movie that takes place in a museum, you may even learn something.
It’s an impressive cast for Night at the Museum, including such greats as Mickey Rooney, Dick Van Dyke and Bill Cobbs as the old guards. Casting the parts of the guards was apparently a blast for producer Shawn Levy “I had the great fortune of auditioning pretty much every exceptional actor over 65,” he recalls “It was amazing—I mean Dick Van Dyke actually came in for an audition. He doesn’t have to audition but he and Mickey Rooney and Bill Cobbs all came in and really showed what they could do with the material…Once I saw those three actors together I knew it was going to be an embarrassment of riches having them play these characters. Dick Van Dyke with his svelte, debonair quality; Mickey with his charming, ‘non-tall’ quality and Bill, who has an enigmatic depth, worked so well together and truly embodied the mischievous spirit of Cecil, Gus and Reginald.”
Ben Stiller thoroughly enjoyed the chance to star with the three. “I think Dick really does have an Egyptian tablet at home that’s the fountain of youth because he’s like twice my age and I have about half his energy,” Stiller joked. “I never thought I’d get the chance to work with the great Mickey Rooney, let alone be beat up by Mickey Rooney!”
Bill Cobbs enjoyed joking around with Rooney and Van Dyke on the set and had this to say about his experience on the set: “I’ve had a lot of good times in film, stage and television but this was one of those truly great experiences where you not only get to combine comedy, drama and improvisation but you get to watch masters come up with fantastic ideas.”
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