Night At the Museum -- 2006

Night At The Museum
(2006)

A Shaun Levy film

Rated: PG for scary images and violence
My Rating: 5 Stars

Ben Stiller
Owen Wilson
Steve Coogan
Robin Williams
Carla Gugino
Dick Van Dyke
Mickey Rooney
Bill Cobbs
Jake Cherry
Patrick Gallagher
Rami Malek

“It's Octavius, Mary.”

The first time I saw this film, I had an earache when I started and no earache when I finished. It must have been all the laughing I did in the time between. :-)

Summary:
Larry Daley (Ben Stiller) is a typical guy with a lot of ideas, a son and no job. Desperate not to be evicted from his apartment, he takes a job as the night watchman for the Museum of Natural History. Little does he know that at night, everything comes to life. Including the giant Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton and violent Attila Hun (Patrick Gallagher), who loves ripping things... People, mostly.

The first night, as you may well imagine, was not the greatest. If it hadn't been for his son, he would have quit right then and there. The second night was even worse. If it hadn't been for Teddy Roosevelt (Robin Williams) daring him to be the man he could be, Larry would have gladly packed up and never looked back. But the third night is when things got really interesting.

The old night guards (Dick Van Dyke, Mickey Rooney & Bill Cobbs) were planning something big and they thought Larry was dumb enough to never guess he was being framed. It would take the combined efforts of all the museum's inhabitants, including bitterest enemies miniatures Roman general Octavius (Steve Coogan) and cowboy Jed (Owen Wilson), to save Larry and life as they had known it for 50 years.

“This is livin' the dream, baby!” [-- Jed, while revving about in Larry's toy Hummer]

What I Liked:
1: The story was unique.
2: The humor. My favorite part is where Larry Psychs Attila the Hun. I laughed until I cried.
3: The acting. Wonderful.
4: It was great to see some familiar faces from the oldies: Dick Van Dyke and Mickey Rooney. They're as wonderful as ever!
5: Owen Wilson and Steve Coogan. They really play well off each other.
6: I haven't seen a Robin Williams film that I didn't like. :-)
7: Even though this movie is really funny, it isn't just entertaining. There is a lot of history thrown in that I had no idea about. That makes it a great kids film but also one that their parents will enjoy.

What I Didn't Like:
1: Rock music on occasion.
2: Rebecca's shirts are sometimes low and revealing. Only one scene did it bother me.
3: The divorce situation. It wasn't offensive... only sad.

I must say that next to Princess Bride, this film is next in line when I think of funny. We've watched it several times and it gets better with each viewing. :-)

“He says he wants to rip you apart.” [Ahkmenrah translating for Attila the Hun]