My mother-in-law recently gave us "Night at the Museum," which came out last Christmas. And although I like Ben Stiller, I had my doubts about how "family friendly" this movie would be. And knowing my in-laws, whose movie tastes are...well, they're not very discriminating. If it's a movie, they probably like it. So although I had heard good things from other families about the movie, I was a bit wary.

We liked it. A lot. The premise of the idea is pretty simple--Larry (Ben Stiller) gets a job as a night watchman at the Museum of Natural History in New York City. And at night, all of the exhibits come to life. That includes the T-Rex skeleton, the various stuffed and mounted animals, wax replicas of Teddy Roosevelt, Lewis and Clark and Sacagawea, and even the tiny little figurines in dioramas.

Folded in with that basic premise are other stories--the three night watchmen who are being replaced are played by Dick Van Dyke, Mickey Rooney, and Bill Cobbs. It was nice to see them acting again, but even nicer that their roles aren't just cameos--they play a large role in a plot in the movie. Another big part of the movie is Larry's son trying to cope with his dad being a night watchman after dozens of unsuccessful careers. I was worried they'd overdo that, but this is no "Pursuit of Happyness," and that's a good thing.

The other actors in this movie, in parts big and small, are all quite good--Owen Wilson, Steve Coogan, Carla Gugino and Ricky Gervais all had smaller roles than I expected, but all were as good as I had hoped. The real surprise for me was Robin Williams as Teddy Roosevelt--or rather, as Roosevelt's wax replica. Most of the time I can's stand Williams--he's too...over the top, too manic for me. His performance here was understated and restrained and quite poignant. Teddy mentors Larry in the "ways of the museum" and helps him unravel a larger mystery.

The special effects were excellent--exactly what was needed to tell the story, and nothing more. The transition between museum replica and living matter happens offscreen, but there's no twinkle of fairy dust or anything--one minute they're a dummy, the next alive.

The real star of this movie is of course Ben Stiller, and he's in nearly every frame. He carries the load easily, and is perfect for the role. Frantic, sympathetic, and sometimes just pathetic, he's a good everyman. I related both to his career problems and his family problems, and it was entertaining to watch him struggle with and then overcome the terrors of his new job.

There is some potty humor, and there are one or two swear words, but on the whole this is a cleaner movie than "Shrek" or some of the other "family friendly" movies out there right now. If you've got kids between the ages of 6 and 12, you should spend a "Night at the Museum."



Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Fit for Friday Evening