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Plot Summary
The fantastical adventure kicks off when Larry Daley (Ben Stiller), a down-and-out dreamer whose imaginative ideas have never
paid off, finds himself in desperate need of a job. Larry has always believed he was destined for big things. But he has no idea
just how literally gargantuan and hairy a challenge he will face when he grudgingly accepts the supposedly menial graveyard shift as a
security guard at the Natural History Museum. Larry soon watches in shock and awe as, one by one, the primeval beasts and storied icons that
surround him stir magically to life - and total havoc ensues...
(from MovieWeb.com)
| | Film Review
Family comedies seem to be rare breeds of filmmaking these days, and good ones worth taking the family to
are even more scarce. With Christmastime being the prime season for family films, it should be no surprise
that fantasy comedy Night At The Museum should find its way into the theaters a few days before the holiday.
Director Shawn Levy's previous venture was this year's much delayed Pink Panther which was panned
by most critics and was given a mild reception by audiences. Night At The Museum places comedian Ben Stiller in the lead
role as a down-on-his-luck divorced father who can't seem to catch a break in life. Once given the tip to
work as a night security guard at the local Natural History Museum, his life would soon be changed forever.
The premise that all museum exhibits come to life after hours is a unique idea that ends up making history
fun to learn about.
To see Stiller in a role so family friendly as his character in Night At The Museum is a real rarity. Stiller channels
his usual underdog role into more of an everyday man who just wants to make something of himself and make his son
proud in the process. Stiller is charming as Larry Daley and it's a real treat to see him perform his usual funny shtick without being
vulgar. Ironically, the usually abrasive and perverse Robin Williams is wonderful as a statue of Theodore Roosevelt
that comes to life every night inside the museum. And Owen Wilson, who partnered with Stiller in the crude 2004
comedy Starsky & Hutch, is delightfully hilarious as a diorama cowboy with a love for fighting named Jedidiah.
Levy injects heaps of charm and silly humor into the film to make it lighthearted and fun from start to finish - managing
to be silly without being completely mindless, overly campy, or finding a way to slime a character with some
random florescent colored goop. The wit of the humor in Night At The Museum helps make it a film that
will be worth revisiting again and again.
Thematically, Night At The Museum is also a real surprise. A message of everyone being capable of
achieving greatness, despite how insignificant they might feel, is conveyed strongly. While Williams' Roosevelt
makes a couple misguided comments about evolution (one moment has him trying to encourage Larry that he's better
than a monkey by asking him "Who's evolved?"), the film's message is inspirational and uplifting. Content is
mild as 1 possible "s" word is present (Larry's mouth is rendered numb and it sounds like he may say it with
a bit of a lisp) and 1 "a" word is heard. All of the violence is comedic and there is no sexual content.
One real novelty about Night At The Museum is the sheer presence of screen legends Dick Van
Dyke and Mickey Rooney as the old night security guards. Rooney is given numerous opportunities to steal his scenes
as a grumpy old man who appears opposed to Larry replacing their job while Van Dyke is his usual charming
self (with some surprises). All in all, Levy and company keep Night At The Museum light, fluffy,
and ultimately a lot of fun throughout.
It may not be perfect, as the film still finds a few moments of cheesy humor or misfired gags, but the good
outweighs any bad as Night At The Museum cements itself as one of Ben Stiller's best and most accessible
projects yet and a delightful distraction from the holiday craze.
If you have any questions or comments about the film before you see it (if you
decide to), feel free to contact me.
- John DiBiase, (reviewed: 12/25/06)
Parental Guide: Quick Summary of Content
 Sex/Nudity: None.
Vulgarity/Language: 1 possible "s" word,
1 "a" word, 2 "G-d"
Alcohol/Drugs: None.
Blood/Gore: Larry gets a small little cut on his forehead and lip
after being beaten up;
But a wax mannequin is accidentally
split in half and we see the waxy split (it looks like chunks of wax and not at all like a real human wound),
but is patched up using wax to put him back together
Violence: Larry is shot with tons of little arrows by
diorama Indians; Miniature cowboys tie Larry to a train track and run a small locomotive into his face (no
harm is done); A hockey puck hits Larry in the face; Two men driving a remote control car crash over a mound of
snow and seemingly die, but we find out they're okay; A Civil War dummy is stabbed with a bayonet and we see stuffing
come out of its suit; A war breaks out between the cowboys and Romans; Larry finds the museum lobby is filled
with all kinds of museum characters fighting together and breaks it up; Ghengis Khan and his men try to
pull Larry apart but are interrupted before they can finish; A couple men beat up Larry and we later see them
each beaten and apprehended
** Disclaimer: All reviews are based solely on the opinions of the reviewer. Most
reviews are rated on how the reviewer enjoyed the film overall, not on content (with a few exceptions). However, if the content
really affects the reviewer's opinion of the film, it will definitely affect the reviewer's rating.
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** (see below notation)
- for mild action, language and brief rude humor.
