Night at the Museum
Certificate PG
Starring: - Ben Stiller, Robin Williams, Dick Van Dyke, Owen Wilson, Steve Coogan, Ricky GervaisRunning Time 108 minutes
Certificate PG
Starring: - Ben Stiller, Robin Williams, Dick Van Dyke, Owen Wilson, Steve Coogan, Ricky GervaisRunning Time 108 minutes
From the writers of Herbie Fully Loaded and The Pacifier comes a kid friendly movie typical of those antecedents such as Jumanji and Zathura, worked with a little magic of director Shawn Levy (Cheaper by the Dozen and The Pink Panther remake).
The all star cast throws the concept that it was the only way to make the audience’s minds drift away from the fact that there is no true plot to the movie. Even with the classic humour that Ben stiller always brings to the silver screen, it just wasn’t enough to lift the film to a high enough standard to call it a true family film.
Putting aside the plotline for a moment you can watch to a certain enjoyable extent. The jokes that get portrayed by Stiller throughout the film are funny and with the cameo of The Office genius of Ricky Gervais as the museum director give something to an older, British audience. But, let down by an agent I presume, Robin Williams was given a terrible script, although his head may have been a little too cold from filming Happy Feet.
The film starts with a terribly long winded explanation of Stiller’s character, Larry. 45 minutes of a background story established within the first 15 minutes. But when he finally gets the job at the museum you can actually sit down and enjoy some of the laughs that the museum can bring. Such as a T-Rex who thinks it’s a dog and plays fetch with his own rib, Cowboys (lead by Owen Wilson) who fight Roman Legionnaires (lead by Steve Coogan) and a rather naughty monkey. And a comedy film just isn’t complete without the likes of a comical monkey gag is it?
But all good things must come to an end, and this end just so happens to be in the form of Dick Van Dyke, Mickey Rooney and Bill Cobbs, the old night watch that Stiller has replaced. Out to steal the key to make the museum come alive at night, Stiller is aided by the museum exhibits to bring them down.
But deep underneath the decaying skin of the film there does lie some true motto’s of life and some powerful messages although you may be too tired to really notice them. Messages like even if you’ve failed before, keep trying. Or doesn’t matter what you believe, even the unbelievable is true. Yes, some of these morals can be thought of in greater detail. But, like this film, I don’t see the point.
Overall it was a waste of 108 minutes. If the boring 45 minutes at the start had been cut down to 15 or 20 at least then it may possibly have been a good film. If you really do want to see it, wait until January next year when the DVD is in the sales.
4/10
The all star cast throws the concept that it was the only way to make the audience’s minds drift away from the fact that there is no true plot to the movie. Even with the classic humour that Ben stiller always brings to the silver screen, it just wasn’t enough to lift the film to a high enough standard to call it a true family film.
Putting aside the plotline for a moment you can watch to a certain enjoyable extent. The jokes that get portrayed by Stiller throughout the film are funny and with the cameo of The Office genius of Ricky Gervais as the museum director give something to an older, British audience. But, let down by an agent I presume, Robin Williams was given a terrible script, although his head may have been a little too cold from filming Happy Feet.
The film starts with a terribly long winded explanation of Stiller’s character, Larry. 45 minutes of a background story established within the first 15 minutes. But when he finally gets the job at the museum you can actually sit down and enjoy some of the laughs that the museum can bring. Such as a T-Rex who thinks it’s a dog and plays fetch with his own rib, Cowboys (lead by Owen Wilson) who fight Roman Legionnaires (lead by Steve Coogan) and a rather naughty monkey. And a comedy film just isn’t complete without the likes of a comical monkey gag is it?
But all good things must come to an end, and this end just so happens to be in the form of Dick Van Dyke, Mickey Rooney and Bill Cobbs, the old night watch that Stiller has replaced. Out to steal the key to make the museum come alive at night, Stiller is aided by the museum exhibits to bring them down.
But deep underneath the decaying skin of the film there does lie some true motto’s of life and some powerful messages although you may be too tired to really notice them. Messages like even if you’ve failed before, keep trying. Or doesn’t matter what you believe, even the unbelievable is true. Yes, some of these morals can be thought of in greater detail. But, like this film, I don’t see the point.Overall it was a waste of 108 minutes. If the boring 45 minutes at the start had been cut down to 15 or 20 at least then it may possibly have been a good film. If you really do want to see it, wait until January next year when the DVD is in the sales.
4/10
