Night At The Museum

You may have seen Night At The Museum, starring Ben Stiller and Robin Williams in the theaters. But have you bought your own copy? It's out on DVD - Own it now! Plot Synopsis: Ben Stiller leads an all-star cast including Robin Williams and Dick Van Dyke in this hilarious blockbuster hit. When good-hearted dreamer Larry Daley (Stiller) is hired as night watchman at the Museum of Natural History, he soon discovers that an ancient curse brings all the exhibits to life after the sun sets. Suddenly, Larry finds himself face-to-face with a frisky T. rex skeleton, tiny armies of Romans and cowboys and a mischievous monkey who taunts him to the breaking point. But with the help of President Teddy Roosevelt (Williams), Larry may just figure out a way to control the chaos and become a hero in his son's eyes. Boasting jaw-dropping special effects and laugh-out-loud moments, Night at the Museum is your ticket to nonstop fun! Please read our review of Night At The Museum, below. To own your own copy of the movie, click on the ad below for the Full Screen edition, or click on the ad in the review for the 2-Disk Edition.

Spending the Night At The Museum by Lynda Rey    5/25/07 I'm sure all of us are equally guilty of wishing we were kids again, wishing we can find pleasure and joy in simple things, including movies. Thankfully for me, "Night At The Museum" is such a movie. It was originally a book written many years ago, but now, thanks to modern technology, it has been added to the growing list of movies that started out as books. What first intrigued me from watching the original trailer was of course the bones of the Tyrannosaurus Rex drinking water from a fountain. Sure, the general scene itself was definitely amusing and sure to catch the eyes of curious moviegoers, but for me, it was yet another version of a dinosaur come to "life," so to speak. I'm a proud dinosaur fanatic, and though this movie isn't a dinosaur movie, it surely knew how to lure me in. At first, I was under the impression that this film wasn't going to be that appealing to the younger generation, but I was wrong. Everyone, both young and old alike, will find something to smile about watching this film. For me, the dinosaur was enough to lure me in. But enough about my own childhood giddiness that emerged upon viewing the mere trailer of the film. Inevitably, I would see the movie and become pleasantly surprised at the playfulness present in the film. You can't help but giggle at the all-around cuteness of it, from the now infamous dinosaur bones come to life, rightly named "Rexy," to the cute little Capuchin monkey called "Dexter" who we learn gets a really big kick out of stealing the night guard's keys. Ben Stiller is especially appealing, having earned the love of many fans by his past movie roles in which he'd typically portray a "regular" person in irregular situations. His role in this movie is just as comedic and refreshing, in which his character Larry is desperately trying to regain the adoration of his son by getting and keeping a good job. Obviously, that's when our adventure begins. After a little heartfelt persistence, Larry lucks out in being considered for a job as a lone night guard at the Museum of Natural History in New York. There, he meets the three night guards Cecil, Gus, and Reginald--played to perfection by Dick Van Dyke, Mickey Rooney, and Bill Cobbs--who attempt to show him the ropes, or so he thinks. But they had a surprise up their sleeves, and unfortunately for Larry, he's bitten off more than he can chew, ending up smack dab in the middle of a wild ride he wasn't prepared for. Armed only with a typed list of his nightly tasks, Larry must survive, outwit, and even cooperate with the many creatures from the various exhibits that have inexplicably come to life shortly after his shift begins. Should he let anyone outside or inside the museum, the consequences would not be pleasant. Robin Williams adds a nice finishing touch to an already sparkling cast with his portrayal of Theodore Roosevelt, a wax statue who turns out to be Larry's biggest hope in overcoming his latest adventure with his many words of wisdom. As the plot thickens, just as Larry embraces an opportunity to share his job with his eager son, he learns of an impending threat to the live-action exhibits, and must find a way to ensure their survival as priceless additions to the museum, regardless of whether or not they come to life each night. The adventure continues, and after being doubtful of himself and fearful of the job at hand, Larry ironically learns to embrace the presence of the live exhibits to aid him in solving the newest problem. The result is just one big adventure littered with comedic thrills, all working together to bring out the laughing child we all have within us. Even the moments where Larry is perhaps scared for his life, we can't help but giggle at how he handles himself, wishing we can all face our own impossibilities with such gusto. It really is a very cute movie, and you don't necessarily have to be a child to appreciate it. The visual effects in this film are quite stunning, and very believable. As mentioned before, I had a soft spot for Rexy the T-Rex skeleton, but even the miniature models from their miniature Western and Roman worlds were incredibly cute. To further appeal to the kid in me, Larry gets to carry them around like little toys in the attempt to coerce them into getting along with each other, seeing as how their exhibits are in such close vicinity. The effects are so convincing, you really do find yourself believing that these are actual tiny figurines come to life and in a world all their own. Cleverly, the creators of this movie remember to keep in mind what the world would be like from a miniature's perspective. A simple task like letting air out of a tire is a tremendous feat for our little heroes, since they obviously have to face the force of the "wind" coming at them. In a museum of natural history full of historical creatures, one must expect literally everything to sprout some life, including a giant stone head called a Moai, which in its bellowing yet humorous voice requests things like "gum-gum" that a child may typically ask for. All in all, "Night at the Museum" is a wonderful family film that children and adults can love for years and years to come. The actors are wonderful, the scenes are magical, and the comedy is definitely unforgettable. The two-disc edition is absolutely stuffed with special feature goodies, from numerous behind-the-scenes featurettes, to deleted scenes, to bloopers. This movie not only had it all in theaters, but it now has it all on DVD. It's definitely an enjoyable movie for everyone and anyone willing to let go of normalcy once in a while to go on their own little childhood adventure. Lynda is 25 years old, lives in Indiana, and hopes to one day pursue a career working with animals. She enjoys many forms of self-expression, including art, poetry, and writing, which is one of the latter additions to her list of hobbies. Comments

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