Monday, 7 January 2008

'Night At The Museum' - (Dir. Shawn Levy)

Night at the Museum brings Milan Trenc’s book of the same name to life, quite literally. Featuring an all-star cast, as well as two of England’s most prized comedians: Ricky Gervais and Steve Coogan, getting in on the act, Night at the Museum already comes full of expectations which it delivers...to an extent. The best appearances come from Owen Wilson, Coogan and Gervais while Stiller takes his “serious while goofy” role made famous in Meet the Parents.


Stiller plays a single dad working to gain his son’s respect, while in contest to Anchorman’s Phill Rudd as the successful step-dad, by taking on a position at the local museum. To Stiller’s surprise however, he’s been given the role as night watchman with a twist...at night the museum comes alive!

The true stars of this movie though were actually the two comedians from our very own Britain. Gervais plays the hard-nosed owner of the museum, who at times is reminiscent of his David Brent character from The Office while Coogan’s portrayal as a tiny Roman emperor figurine teams up brilliantly with Wilson who, as the leading cowboy, provides some relief from the sterile family-friendly humour which this film sometimes suffers with.

As a family action comedy, this film does moderately well but the cast is forced to provide the momentum by displaying their own individual style of comedy; often to greater effect than the gags scripted by the studio. Luckily

this review is late because I wouldn’t recommend wasting good money on going to the cinema to see this film but maybe I can stop you from renting it as Night at the Museum is only worth waiting for an accidental watch on T.V.

Laughs for all the family, but you won’t be laughing all at the same time.

Soundtrack includes: Fatboy Slim, Earth Wind and Fire, McFly

Running Time -108 mins

year - 2006

Die Laughing Reviewer Thomas Rogers

Edited by William Hensher (The best he could)

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