NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM
US, 2006, 108 minutes, Colour.
Ben Stiller, Carla Gugino, Dick Van Dyke, Mickey Rooney, Bill Cobbs, Jake Cherry, Ricky Gervais, Robin Williams, Rami Malek, Steve Coogan, Anne Meara, Paul Rudd, Owen Wilson.
Directed by Shawn Levy.
One of the nicest surprises for the end of 2006 and a film to recommend is Night at the Museum. Children of all ages will find something to amuse and entertain – and so will parents.
The museum is the Museum of Natural Sciences in New York. Only the night security guards (Dick Van Dyke, Bill Cobbs and a fiercely feisty tiny 85 year old Mickey Rooney) know that every night all the exhibits come alive. They are being retired and are not too happy about it. They have a devious plan. Their replacement is a desperately out of work father, Larry (Ben Stiller), who wants to relate to his young son who is being brought up by his mother and her new husband.
One of the other difficulties at the museum is that it is managed by Ricky Gervais. He gives a very funny performance as a pompous ass, censorious but who can never find the right word, or any word, to finish his reprimands. On the other hand Carla Gugino is a charming museum guide who is doing her thesis on Sacagawea, the Indian scout who helped the Lewis and Clark expedition.
When you know that the exhibits which come to life include a dinosaur who likes to play catch, a range of African animals, a western panorama alongside one of the Roman Empire, Teddy Roosevelt (played entertainingly by Robin Williams), Attila the Hun and friends as well as some cavemen trying to invent fire, you will know that there is trouble in store.
There is a great deal of humour and gleeful fun to be had, not only in way that the exhibits deal with Larry but with his trying to cope with all the situations, complicated by Jedadiah from the west (Owen Wilson doing his usual performance most entertainingly) and Octavius from Rome (Steve Coogan) perpetually clashing.The special effects are wonderful as are the adventures.
Ben Stiller, who can be quite manic (Dodgeball) as well as the straight man for comedy (Meet the Parents), has to be a bit of both and is very good as the guard and father – we are on his side as he tries to deal with the growing chaos every night. Shawn Levy has directed some broad comedies (The Pink Panther, Cheaper by the Dozen) but with this one he has excelled himself. Recommended light entertainment.
1.An entertainment for young and old? The freshness of the story, the exhibits coming alive, the effects?
2.New York City, the museum, the interiors, the exhibitions, the corridors, behind the scenes? Musical score?
3.The range of characters and exhibitions, American history, world history, the animals: dinosaur, mammoth, lions, monkeys? The cavemen and fire? Attila and the jokes about his past and getting some therapy? The Roman legions? The clash with the cowboys and the railroad? Lewis and Clark and their searching, Sacajawea and her helping? Unable to hear behind the glass? Teddy Roosevelt – and his attraction to her? Columbus?
4.Larry and his jobs, the divorce, his wife and her new husband, love for his son, the discussions about the boy’s future, moving, unemployment? The interview for the job (Ben Stiller acting with his actual mother)? Going to the museum, discussions with Cecil and the guards? The explanation of duties? The manager and his laconic manner, stumbling for words? Their jokes on Larry, the notes for the night? His enjoying the quiet by himself and fooling around?
5.Night, the dinosaur and his wanting to play fetch, the lions and monkeys wandering, the monkeys and the key, Teddy Roosevelt and his explanations, Octavius and Jedediah and their clashes, their capturing Larry, tying him to the railroad? Larry’s experience at first, changing heart? Discovering what was happening? Ringing Cecil? The morning and the manager criticising the disorder?
6.The manager, his words? Rebecca and her guidance, the groups, discussions with Larry, her thesis, Sacajawea?
7.The normal order with the exhibits? The young pharaoh? The tablet, helping things come alive?
8.Larry’s son, going to the museum, not seeing anything happen? Cecil, Gus and Reginald and their plan, their characters, their discussions about being laid off, the robbery? The chases through the museum? The boy and his involvement?
9.The three guards, their characters, Mickey Rooney as the pugnacious Gus?
10.The exhibits combining forces, inside and outside, the chases, the snow?
11.The pharaoh, everybody coming back into the museum, everything going back in order, Jedediah and Octavius together outside, the car, just getting back in time?
12.Rebecca, her meeting Sacajawea, the discussion? Teddy and his crush?
13.Teddy Roosevelt explaining that they were exhibits, resigned to their fate?
14.Everything restored, the television news talking about the dinosaur prints in the snow? Larry and Nick and a future?
