The Ultimate Gift -- 2006

The Ultimate Gift
(2006)

Rated PG for thematic elements, some violence and language

My Rating: 5 Stars

Drew Fuller

Bill Cobbs

Abigail Breslin

Ali Hillis

Lee Meriwether

Brian Dennehy

James Garner

I didn't think I would ever find another young actor like Dakota Fanning but after watching this film, I would say Abigail Breslin is right up there with her. :-)

Summary:
When Red Stevens (James Garner) passed away, his family expected to receive the mother-load. Instead, they were all dismayed when they received little more than they had been given during his life. And no one knows who gets the bulk of Red's estate. Not even Jason. But Jason isn't even sure he's living anymore.

Jason Stevens (Drew Fuller) has had everything money can buy since he was a baby. He had never worked a day in his life. He didn't understand the value of anything. But in spite of how spoiled he was, his grandfather saw a fire in him. He saw a man that could be untainted with money and greed and he devised a plan that he thought would change his grandson if nothing else would.

He surprised grandson with a series of gifts... the first being the gift of work. After one month, Jason had missed breakfasts, been blistered, cattle prodded and his girlfriend hadn't understood, for what he thought was a gift of money. It wasn't. He left Texas, vowing never to degrade himself in such a way ever again. To blank with his Grandfather's will and his stupid gifts.

The second gift was the gift of friendship. “You must come back to this office in one month with one true friend.” Easy? Well, when you've been rich all your life and suddenly, you have no money, no home and your mother isn't allowed to help you, you find out how many friends you really have.

That's when Emily walked into Jason's life. This little girl was just the match for trust-fund-baby Jason Stevens. When she found out she would get nothing out of a friendship with him (even though she and her mom needed money badly) she decided it would be worth a shot. For more reasons than one (“designing” would be one of the words to describe Emily). Little did Jason Stevens realize how much one little girl could teach a man... and how much a man can change in a few months.

As the months progressed on and he was given harder tasks, Jason began to understand his Grandfather and... God. And the gift in the end wasn't quite what he had been expecting.

What I Liked:

1: For an inspirational film, I would say this is the best I've watched.

2: The acting. Phenomenal! Bravo!
3: Emily... I really liked her character. She actually made me cry but three seconds later, she had me laughing hysterically.
4: The humor. With many Christian films, the humor seems second hand or it falls flat. Not with this film. It was very unexpected and effective.
5: Bill Cobbs was great. I've seen him on one other film and he was just as good. :-)
6: The romance. Of course.
7: The lessons. They can be applied so easily to my life.
8: When Jason realizes that he doesn't to be like the rest of his family. There was no reason he couldn't change the course of his life.

Things to Know:

1: There is some immodesty... his girlfriend and his mom. It does add to the story because the people they were do dress that way. It's nothing horrible but if you have a problem with it, have a towel handy.

I highly recommend this film. I am now looking for the book (Jim Stovall).

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]