She liked it a lot more than I did. The scenes in the museum were pretty funny, if not hilarious. I enjoyed Robin Williams as TR, and the Hun crying scene was very funny.
No mention in this thread about Dick Van Dyke, Mickey Rooney and Bill Cobbs as the three old security guards, though? Van Dyke was one of the highlights of the movie, IMHO. And Mickey Rooney was really funny!
One big question I had: why was Owen Wilson completely uncredited? His performance was pretty good, and the movie wasn’t that bad–why no credit?
I think “loosely inspired by a book” would be a better phrase- in the childrens’ picture book the film is based on, only the dinosaurs come to life.
I saw this in IMAX with a friend who had already seen the film before- I enjoyed it. Despite some other posters’ apathy towards them, I thought the slap-fight and comforting Atilla scenes were very funny. I also agree that the old guards were a highlight- especially Mickey Rooney. I also liked the scene where Ben Stiller is telling the employment officer (Ben Stiller’s real-life mom, according to my friend) about all of his goofy failed inventions such as “The Snapper” (you snap your fingers, the lights turn on. No, it’s not a rip-off of “The Clapper”- they stole his idea!)
Were the exterior and interior shots of the museum actually filmed in New York? I know the statue of Teddy Roosevelt outside the real museum looks very much like the one in the film, and I know there are dinosaur skeletons at the entrance to the museum. (The signs and guard uniforms in the film read “The Museum of Natural History,” but this was probably done by the filmmakers intentionally since everyone calls it that- the official name of the museum is the American Museum of Natural History.)
Another highlight- Ben Stiller playing with the PA system on his first night on the job, imitating a monster truck rally announcer and attempting to sing Eye of the Tiger.
It’s funny, that’s where we wa;led in. My wife and I had droped off a ring to be re-sized and had about an hour to spare. We went by the movie and saw the only thing we had time to see was Night at the Museum, even though it hastarted 25 minutes earlier. I said, , “Let’s see, 15 minutes of previews and then 10 miutes of what. Plot setup? The guy works at a museum where everything comes to life,as long as we get there for that I think we are good.”
Agree with you on the Simpsons critique (it was a really bad episode that was written **way ** too much to play off of his schtick), but disagree with you on his role in this flick.
The museaum director who couldn’t finish a sentence was classic dry British humor. But, you either like that stuff or you don’t. YMMV
As to the OP, I liked the film and so did my 9-year-old daughter and my parents (in their mid 70s). It delivered what it promised, with only a few minor misses.
I saw it with my boyfriend and my son. We all enjoyed it. I will probably buy the DVD when it comes out, because it is exactly the kind of mindless goofy movie that is perfect to put on when you are bored in the evening, have the laptop at the sofa, and want something to entertain you but that you don’t necessarily have to pay 100% attention to. I go to movies to be entertained. I found this movie very entertaining. I really liked the dinosaur–he was adorable.
I got a kick out of it, although admittedly, I’m a sucker for any action/adventure movie that extolls the virutes of education. Not a great movie by any means, but it was the right film for the mood I was in, especially after suffering through a spate of highbrow movies that weren’t nearly as good as they should have been.
I enjoyed it for what it was. I wasn’t looking for a movie with redeeming qualities, just a fun way to spend a couple of hours and this one did the job. I’d even buy it on dvd.
I took my son to see it tonight and we enjoyed it very much. It’s no Movie Of The Year but it was a funny lighthearted comedy. The characters were good and there some great lines.
I saw it for free (passes on new years’ eve) and rather enjoyed it. I went in without any particular expectations of it being ‘good’, as I’m definately not a Ben Stiller fan, but it was entertaining.
As for the TR ‘knowing’ he was just a wax statue while the others did not, that bothered me, too. A friend of mine theorized that it might just be what TR would’ve said to Stiller in order to spur him on to being more of a leader / self-motivator, just as he’d been doing for the rest of the film, but I found that explaination kinda weak.
If we go into theories, however, one that I was rather proud of myself for was the reasoning for the animations in the first place:
[SPOILERS]
When certain egyptian royalty were buried, they had with them something, IIRC, called ubashti, which were carved figures that would come to life to serve them in the afterlife. Having the egyptian royalty’s tablet be the McGuffin to animate everything in the museum would fall into that idea rather nicely.
[/SPOLIERS]
My theory was that the statue of TR was in the entry area of the museum, not in any sort of “habitat” setting, and in addition to the setting, was probably in a better position to interact with the guard(s). He had probably spent the last 50 years chatting it up with the museum staff and had therefore learned more about who and what he was than most of the other figures.
So we are concerned about how TR knows he is wax, but not so much about where the water the T Rex was drinking was going, or how a stuffed monkey was able to pee?
Actually, I thought he was quite compelling in Permanent Midnight, although I’m not sure (or don’t remember) if that’s his only dramatic turn or not, as I’m not his biggest fan. As to the topic, I haven’t seen the movie yet, but I’d line up for days to watch Owen Wilson eat ice cream. Vanilla even.
Was one of the best lines from the movie, and most quoted by our family.
Ok just me.
The Easter Island head / Complete randomness of the statement just came together perfectly for me. Like “Oatmeal” for the name of “frosty” in the Rankin Bass animation. Complete odds and ends that singulary mean nothing, come together for a great moment.
I liked the movie. Do I want the DVD? No. Then again, when things come to life in a muesum, your not going to get a thoughtful movie.
Than-Kew! I’ll be here all week! :happy orthodox jewish guy smiley:
I liked the movie OK. Ben Stiller plays everyshlub again, but it had funny moments. Definitely check your brain at the door. At least there were no fart jokes in this one! Those were in Charlotte’s Web, where they fit in organicly. (Sorry!)
A Minyan of Mayan Minions … A Minyan of Mayan Minions … I’ll stick with “Unique New York”.
