Starring: Ben Stiller, Jake Cherry, Martin Christopher and Bill Cobbs
Director: Shawn Levy
Rated: PG
ONE of the nicest surprises to end 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 nuisance, 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 the 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.
