Night at the Museum is a comedy directed by Shawn Levy and starring Ben Stiller, Robin Williams, Ricky Gervais, Owen Wilson, Carla Gugino, Rami Malek, Dick Van Dyke, Bill Cobbs, Mickey Rooney, Steve Coogan, Jake Cherry and Mizuo Peck.
Larry Daley (Stiller) is an often-unemployed would-be entrepreneur who is on the verge of losing access to his son Nick (Cherry) because of his unstable living arrangements. He winds up finding a job at the museum of natural history as the new night guard, as the previous three guards Cecil (Van Dyke), Reginald (Cobbs), and Gus (Rooney) are being downsized. On the first night, though, he finds out that everything in the museum comes to life by the power of a magical tablet on display in the Egypt exhibit. The previous night guards leave Larry a list of how to deal with the exhibits, but he promptly loses it, and only restores order with the help of Teddy Roosevelt (Williams).
Ready to quit, Larry gives it another shot despite the misgivings of his irritable boss (Gervais), and tries to make the museum work, but winds up making an even bigger mess. While trying to reveal to his son the truth of the museum, he learns that the night guards intend to steal the tablet and frame him - the tablet has been prolonging their lives and keeping them strong. A rousing chase through New York ensues, Larry rallies the exhibits, Roosevelt hooks up with Sacajawea (Peck), the weirdness throughout the city gives people interest in visiting the museum, all is well.
It's a cute movie. I have questions about the rules of magic, here (does Teddy really know everything that the real Roosevelt would have? Because holy shit that's amazing). Exhibits appear capable of doing things like eating and drinking - Larry is explicitly told that the lions will eat him, but then, he's told that by the night guards who don't exactly have his best interests at heart. You forget that kind of nitpickery during the movie, though; it's quick and fun and we get to see an ordinary (if somewhat arrogant) guy like Larry find his place, and that's kind of nice.
Plus, I hadn't realized it until last night, but it's cool to see a divorced couple in a movie that doesn't hate each other. Larry's ex (Kim Raver) is perfectly fine with Larry and their relationship as it stands, but she's understandably concerned about him getting evicted repeatedly and what that kind of instability is doing to their son. She's not played as a shrew or nagging, and even Paul Rudd as her new fiancee comes off as a genuinely nice guy (look, kids, it's Ant-Man!).
Overall, it's sweet and it's watchable. I remember thinking the sequel wasn't as good, but I haven't seen it in a while I never saw the third one.
My Grade: B+
Rewatch value: Medium-high
Next up: Night of the Creeps
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