Looking after a 4-month old boy increases one thing... time spent on the couch watching television. This is, by no means, a daily ritual but the frequency of it has increased, mostly due to the sheer exhaustion of trying to stay awake. Yes, I use television as a way for me to drift off to the dream state. That's not to say that I don't enjoy watching movies but that movie better catch my attention span within the first 10 minutes. Otherwise, I either turn it off or tune it out. I don't have the time to waste when it could be used for sleeping.

With that said, I feared I was going to fall asleep when Night at the Museum came on. I've been wanting to watch this movie since it made its debut but never had the chance to do so. I like watching ben Stiller. I like Robin Williams. I like Owen Wilson. Heck, it even had Dick Van Dyke, Mickey Rooney and Bill Cobbs. The combination of these actors was the first step to pique my curiosity and I really wanted to see how it would pan out in the end. It also helps that I like whimsical and silly as well, and I was betting the farm that this movie would have the right dosage for me to stay awake.

Night of the Museum is a 2006 film, adapted from the 1993 children's book by Milan Trenc of the same name. It follows the exploits of Larry (Ben Stiller), who is a divorced father trying to settle down and find his place in society. He's optimistic that his big break is just waiting for him around the corner and that he's destined for greatness. It just hasn't happened yet due to failed business ventures. In the meantime, he's struggling to maintain a stable lifestyle. Even worse, he fears his son Nick is starting to look up to his soon-to-be stepfather, a very successful bond trader on Wall Street. In hopes to win back his son's support, and even his affection, Larry realizes he needs to make a quick career change and takes up the first job opportunity that comes his way which ends up being a night guard at the Museum of Natural History. A night guard at a museum? Sounds like a piece of cake. Little does Larry realize that the museum really comes to life at night.

I actually like Ben Stiller, though I do have to admit his movies need some getting used to before I can really appreciate it. Fortunately, his wild ways have been tamed all because this is a family film, and it completely works. Stiller's unique sense of humour still shines through but it's not as pretentious as I am accustomed to seeing. He plays the everyday man down on his luck and looking for the silver lining. In other words, he actually seems normal.

It also helps that Stiller, though he is in most of the frames, doesn't have bear the comedic burden by himself as indicated by such a great ensemble. Robin Williams as Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt acts as a mentor to Larry encouraging him to greatness. I’m even more surprised that Levy managed to rein in Williams’ manic ways. I love Ricky Gervais as Larry's boss who can never properly finish a sentence without fumbling for the right words.

But the duo of Owen Wilson and Steve Coogan cracks me up. Ever play Cowboys and Indians as a kid with miniatures? Well, take away the Indians and replace them with Romans to ensure for the best powderkeg results. The chemistry between these two characters—a cowboy and a Roman centurion—is the most asinine idea but it works very well. It makes me leery to think my action figures will come to life at night and start an all-out-war.

I was happy to see Dick Van Dyke in a movie again, though I couldn’t get the song "Chim Chim Cher-ee" out of my head. I half expected to see Julie Andrews fly down with her umbrella. Van Dyke, Mickey Rooney and Bill Cobbs, as the three night guards heading for retirement, bring to the movie a combination of whimsical, belligerence, mystery, and snarky attitude (especially Rooney). It’s a perfect mix and I’m glad their roles weren’t reduced to simple cameos.

And, of course, there’s the monkey. There’s always a monkey creating trouble.

The special effects were very unobtrusive and blended in quite seamlessly with the actors. It’s not an easy thing to do at all, and especially even more difficult in a comedy yet this movie shows how it is done correctly/ But while all of that was superb, the amazing thing was the believability that this was set in New York City (I know you fell for that, too). Everything was filmed in Vancouver, British Columbia. I chuckle at the fact how movies are filmed at that destination to pass off as New York City. The two Fantastic Four movies are proof of that.

I didn’t realize how much I was going to enjoy Night at the Museum. I was ready to pass it off as another Ben Stiller vehicle but I was wrong. It’s a great to escape with the family and it feels right without getting extremely corny. I haven’t felt this good about a family film since The Incredibles. Just don’t get on Dick Van Dyke’s bad side. You’ll never see that kick coming.


Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Good for Groups
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 9 - 12