NoFace for Film

Title: Night at the Museum
Year: 2006
Director: Shawn Levy
Starring: Ben Stiller, Carla Gugino, Dick Van Dyke, Mickey Rooney, Bill Cobbs, Robin Williams, Owen Wilson, Steve Coogan, Ricky Gervais
Rated: PG

Review by: Matt H.

NoFace for Film Rating: 6 out of 7

More often than not, when a film is tagged with “fun for the whole family” or “good time will be had by all” it is a mild distraction for the kids and less than mildly entertaining for the parents. In the case of Night at the Museum (gasp, cringe), they nailed it. A good cast, reading from a good script (based on a good children’s book), working under good direction, equals a good movie. Go figure.

Here’s the deal. Larry Daley (Ben Stiller) is divorced, a dad, and a bit down and out when he finally lands a job as the new night guard at the Museum of Natural History. He’s given a notebook of nightly “to do’s” by the three current guards (beautifully played by Dick Van Dyke, Mickey Rooney, and Bill Cobbs) and as soon as the lights go out and doors are locked, everything comes to life and the film truly begins.

The first 15 to 20 minutes serve to setup Larry as a hapless dink who can’t get it together until he lands the museum gig. The rest of the film is chock full of silliness and slap-stick for the kids and innuendo and some not-too-bad acting for the grown folks.

Ben Stiller does a good job of being both manic and genuine throughout the film and Robin Williams surprises as a stoic representation of Teddy Roosevelt, maintaining a good support presence without stealing the show. The rest of the support cast do their job very well, helping to advance the story without bogging down the plot in over-expressed side stories. The three elder night guards shine as the story develops, but none more than Mickey Rooney’s Gus. Gus is a belligerent old cuss who stands two feet below everybody but talks about eight feet tall. Channeling Rocky’s Burgess Meredith, Mickey Rooney is funny and hard-nosed and well worth the price of admission.

Night at the Museum is not the greatest movie ever. It isn’t even the greatest family movie, but it has a ton of laughs and is all kinds of fun. Good Luck.