Night at the Museum
directed by Shawn Levy
written by Robert Ben Garant and Thomas Lennon
starring Ben Stiller, Carla Gugino, Dick Van Dyke, Mickey Rooney, Bill Cobbs, Jake Cherry, Ricky Gervais, Robin Williams, Patrick Gallagher, Owen Wilson, Pierfrancesco Favino, Rami Malek, Steve Coogan, Mizuo Peck, Paul Rudd
In this generic, predictable action-comedy the laughs are few and far between although the story is earnestly told and there are a few moments that are effectively winning.
The most thrilling aspect of this film has nothing to do with the special effects. It's watching three grizzled veterans - Dick Van Dyke, Micky Rooney and Bill Cobbs - in full on ass whooping mode for the duration of the film. They project a terror that is readily felt from the moment they step into the film and it's clear they are up to no good.
The film is the basic story of a man who has failed to live up to his son's expectations and must return to favor in his eyes. Larry Daley (Stiller) is something of a failure who conceived of dozens of inventions that haven't quite taken off. He is forced to take a job at the American Museum of Natural History as their night watchman. He's hesitant at first but accepts the job because he has no other prospects. On his first night the Tyrannosaurus Rex comes to life followed by everything else in the museum. Quickly, chaos reigns and Larry is subjected to the brutal mein of Attila the Hun (Gallagher) and his fighting men. He is also tied down by thin string by Jedadiah (Wilson) and his men although he does meet Teddy Roosevelt (Williams) and is encouraged to return to the job.
Larry learns all about the Egyptian tablet of Akmenrah (Malek) which allows the museum to come to life. Larry retires for the evening and reluctantly returns the following evening but this time after taking a few measures which prove to allow him to momentarily assume the upper hand.
One is succinctly aware of Larry's relationship with his son Nick (Cherry) and it's clear that they film is going to focus on how they interact with one another. For all its special effects and histrionics this is a family film that celebrates the bond between father and son. Nick needs to believe in his father because he has been disappointed so many times before and really cannot stand another one. Larry, for his part, wants to prove his worth to his son so he takes him along to show him the shenanigans that have been taking place at the museum. At first nothing happens and Nick groans assuming it's just another one of Larry's failed attempts to impress him. However, it is discovered that the tablet has been stolen and this leads to an adventure that Nick in his wildest dreams could not ever have imagined. The bottom line: Father and son reach an understanding and all is well in the universe. It's clear cut, obvious and utterly without mystery. Still, it's what families seem to want so with that in mind Hollywood will continue to churn out these type of films.
The special effects are quite impressive in the end. One believes in the tiny people and their various worlds. Also, there is something fascinating about the idea of museums coming to life at night and the film does create personalities for each of the central characters in this narrative. This has much to do with the actors because much of the story is improvised and many performers are given free reign to enhance the original script and the results are at least interesting on occasion. It's still not particularly amusing as most of the humor is situational and not particularly inspired.
There are several scenes with Ricky Gervais that beg to be outright hilarious but never quite manage to accomplish this goal. One feels the humor and would like to extract it but this simply is not possible. Still, it's a joy to watch such a constipated character who cannot finish a single sentence and Gervais's delivery is delightful throughout.
Overall, this is a family film designed strictly to satisfy the expectations of small children and their parents although there is nothing here that remotely speaks to the typical adult. It's just a flaccid, generic, and wholly predictable film that nevertheless manages to speak a universal language that kids everywhere can appreciate. There is a mischievous capuchin monkey who gets most of the few laughs from those who still think such antics are inherently funny. Ultimately, it's a soft film that manages to dull Stiller's comedic teeth, yet there are moments that are rudimentarily inspired with a modicum of lunacy.