Movie and Television Reviews

Despite the presence of Robin Williams, Night at the Museum was a very funny movie with a solid plot and great pacing. Anything dealing with history tempts writers towards pedantry, but this movie thankfully steers away from too heavy a message and, instead, gives people of all ages a fun movie wrapped around the subtlest of invitations to learn more about history. Other messages include fatherly love, peace amongst men, and like Eragon below, duty. Night definitely veers towards the Carlylian Great Man theory of history where the choices of people capable of making great decisions decide history and not the pressure of social forces.

Larry Daley, played by Ben Stiller, plays a divorced father who's had little success providing a stable home for his 10 year old son. Facing eviction, Larry gets a job taking care of a museum at night where, because of an ancient Egyptian artifact, everything comes to life at night. I can't tell you more without giving the plot away, but it takes the viewer for a couple of loops, and it all makes sense in the end. A number of subplots deftly make their way into the movie including a rivalry between two expansion-bent societies, America and Rome, in an original analysis; the romantic pursuit of Sacajawea by Teddy Roosevelt (Robin Williams as Teddy and the stunningly beautiful Mizuo Peck); a monkey; a surprisingly sensitive Attila the Hun; and some night watchmen including Mickey Rooney, who turns in his funniest performance since 1943.

If you've seen any other Ben Stiller or Owen Wilson comedies, you're already familiar with the humor. Essentially they take a seriously juvenile approach to non-serious problems. In one scene, for example, Daley has to take the keys away from a monkey. He could have just taken the keys, but, instead, takes time out to taunt the monkey. All such scenes are very funny. The resolution is similar to Curious George, but effective. A great movie that may inspire your kids, or even you, to crack open a history book; what a wonderful opportunity.