Night at the Museum

When Ben Stiller’s Larry Daley finally realises that he must get a regular job he finds himself working as a night guard at New York’s Museum of Natural History. It soon becomes apparent that all is not as it seems and Larry has to deal with far more than security alarms and precious artefacts.

In order to keep his job and impress his son, he must learn to deal with the hurdles that the job throws his way. He gets a little help along the way from his ancient friends.

Having seen the trailers for Night at the Museum you may well be forgiven for forgetting that this is a kids’ film. Starring almost every comic actor ever considered top of the game this is most definitely a film created with adults as much in mind as kids.

Dick Van Dyke, Owen Wilson, Steve Coogan, Robin Williams and Ricky Gervais all star alongside Stiller in what would otherwise be a good kids’ film but little more.

The combination of this fabulous cast and the brilliant minds of Christopher Colombus (Harry Potter, Home Alone, The Goonies) and Shawn Levy (The Pink Panther, Cheaper by the Dozen), paired with the animation instead make this a great film for all ages.

The predictability of the story is the main thing that marks this out as a kids’ film but that’s ok, this is a kids’ film.

Although you could quite possibly live without some of the extras Bringing the Museum to Life in particular makes for great viewing. It illustrates just how much of the film was produced using blue screens and that in a great deal of Stiller’s scenes director Shawn Levy was the closest thing to an animal in the room.

If you ever loved Jumanji then you’re sure to enjoy Night at the Museum whether you watch it with or without kids.

Written for Entertainmentwise
Photo by Matt Sephton