Synopsis

Good-hearted dreamer Larry Daley, despite being perpetually down on his luck, thinks he's destined for something big. Even he could never have imaged how "big", when he accepts what appears to be a menial job as a graveyard shift security guard at a museum of natural history. At his job interview Cecil Fredericks gives Larry two good pieces of advice: (1) "It gets a bit spooky around here at night, feel free to turn the lights on". (2) "and the most important thing of all to remember, don't let anything in or out." "In or out?," he asks. During Larry's watch, extraordinary things begin to occur: Mayans, Roman Gladiators, and cowboys emerge from their diorama to wage epic battles; in his quest for fire, a Neanderthal burns down his own display; Attila the Hun pillages his neighboring exhibits, and a T-Rex reminds everyone why he is history's fiercest predator. Amidst the chaos, the only person Larry can turn to for advice is a wax figure of President Theodore Roosevelt, who must help our hero save the museum.

What The Critics Say

"A two-hour romp through goofy humor, history-buff in-jokes, kooky physical comedy, and high-speed chase scenes. They just don't make 'em like this anymore." Josh Hurst CHRISTIANITY TODAY "Ben Stiller and gang still manage to give the delightfully entertaining Night at the Museum a little edge." Kit Bowen HOLLYWOOD.COM "Night at the Museum, in fact, is stuffed with smart performers doing graciously silly work, and all [director Shawn Levy] has to do is manage traffic." Ty Burr BOSTON GLOBE "Ben Stiller's fun new adventure-comedy makes history cool for the whole family." Jeff Otto CINEMAOBSESSION.COM "Director Shawn Levy ensures Night At The Museum sets a comic pace from start to finish, milking Stiller's goofy, comic, nerd routine to the max. Importantly, Levy never forgets his family audience, ensuring the escapades are thrilling without being scary. They certainly seemed to have the kids at my screening rollicking in the aisles. Night at the Museum is a fun-filled holiday movie ride that should prove to be an entertaining excursion for kids and parents alike." Paul Nassari ADELAIDE NOW

"There are two types of 'family films'. In the first category, we have films targeted purely at kids – those where children go to have fun and adults go to keep an eye on them. In the second category, we have films targeted at everyone – those where both children and adults can have a good time. Night At The Museum easily falls into the later category. "Night At The Museum" is a cool family movie. It’s not trying to tell us a message and it’s not trying to make us feel warm and fuzzy. All it asks is that you sit back, relax and enjoy." Matthew Toomey THE FILM PIE "A fun-filled, action-packed, uplifting film, entertaining for the entire family." Rex Roberts FILM JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL "It won't change cinematic history, but Night at the Museum is a frothily fun film for the holidays." Staci Layne Wilson BUZZINE MAGAZINE "It's never too late to enjoy a little holiday fantasy, such as spending a Night at the Museum." Bill Muller ARIZONA REPUBLIC "Bound to become THE family entertainment choice for the holiday season. It's a blockbuster. Deal with it." Pete Hammond MAXIM "The special effects are a blast. The T-Rex skeleton looks authentic as it clatters down the hallway after a terrified Larry. But even better is the remarkable, star-studded ensemble." Nancy Churnin DALLAS MORNING NEWS

The Inside Story Yes, there is a Santa Clause. Put me down as a believer. Why? Because it's one of those rare occassions when my opinion of a film, aligns with that of my fellow major critics based in that big old retirement village known as Adelaide. It truly is a time of celebration and rejoicing. "Director Shawn Levy ensures Night At The Museum sets a comic pace from start to finish, milking Stiller's goofy, comic, nerd routine to the max. "Night At The Museum" is a fun-filled holiday movie ride that should prove to be an entertaining excursion for kids and parents alike," says IE critic Paul Nassari. "A Night At The Museum should be the sort of movie that every child would give all their pocket money to be part of," says the Adelaide Film Scene. ".. a fun-filled adventure suitable for kids of all age and sizes. Recommended family and adult fun," says The Movie Pages. Being both big-hearted and humble, I was moved to tears when I read those reviews. What more could I wish for at holiday time? Well, there is that big X-Lotto Mega Draw coming up. That would be the icing on the cake. "I think most of us have had that experience where you walk by a statue in a museum and you could swear that you saw its eyes follow you," says director Shawn Levy. "It’s a little spooky and it’s also very cool to imagine what would really happen if that came true, and, as a filmmaker, it’s exactly the kind of wild, incredible 'what if' that is completely impossible to resist." I know what Levy means. I remember being in du musée du Louvre checking out the works of the masters, those gigantic monolithic paintings and yes, I too could have sworn the eyes were following me. It is an uneasy feeling. But back to the story of the making of "Night At The Museum". What was it's genesis? It was all sparked when Croatian illustrator Milan Trenc first drew a children's story book in which a brand new night guard at the Natural History Museum in New York dozes off only to discover that one of the towering dinosaur skeletons he’s supposed to be protecting has mysteriously wandered away! Suddenly, the guard discovers he is surrounded by talking, growling and prowling statues, which turn the place upside down. With its spirited humor and enchanting tale of an ordinary man faced with wrangling the greatest legends of the past, the story became a family favorite. Fox were clever enough to see a movie in Milan Trenc's work and optioned the book rights. 1492 Pictures' Chris Columbus ("Christmas with the Kranks" and "Bicentennial Man") and Michael Barnathan ("Cheaper by the Dozen" and "Bicentennial Man") were brought in as producers while 1492 Pictures' Mark Radcliffe ("Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" and "Mrs Doubtfire") scored an important role as Executive Procuer. The next step Fox executives took was to show the book to screenwriters Thomas Lennon & Robert Ben Garant. "We literally leapt from our seats," says Lennon. "I mean, we’re both from New York and we basically spent our boyhoods roaming the Natural History Museum. We could draw you a map from memory, that’s how much we loved spending time there. It was simply the coolest place on earth." And that wasn't all. Lennon's partner Garant added, "The thing that really grabbed us is that we both had the same dream as kids of hiding out in the museum and getting a chance to see what happens in there after it closes. I think lots of kids, not to mention plenty of adults, have had that same dream. To be there alone in the dark with all those legends of history and all those humongous creatures would be the ultimate adventure." But where did the idea come from for the source of what brings the museum to life at night? Lennon recalls, "We were both in complete awe of the Egyptian Hall at the Met in New York and since Egyptians were very into keeping things alive forever, it suddenly made sense that it all began with an ancient Egyptian slate and the age-old wish for eternal youth." At the core of "Night At The Museum" is the character of Larry Daley. "Larry is that guy I think we all know who believes in his dreams but doesn’t entirely believe in himself," Garant explained. "He’s got these colossal ideas in his head all the time, but he’s never had the opportunity to prove to himself or his family that he can actually make something succeed; and he’s not sure he can, until now." From the moment he read the script Ben Stiller (who played Ted Stroehmann in "There's Something About Mary") wanted the part of Larry Daley. "I grew up about five blocks from the Natural History Museum and as a kid it had this really magical aura about it," Stiller remembers. "It’s not just paintings on the wall but it’s where you can see all the very coolest things that ever existed, lions and whales and Egyptians and dinosaurs, in one place. So the concept of everything coming to life in there at night couldn’t have been more appealing and exciting. It was something I felt I’d love to see." And there was quite a lot of fun and scary times with T-Tex wasn't there? "I don’t know if Shawn worked in a dance troupe or a mime company or an animal training facility, but he seemed to have a real affinity for playing off-camera animals," notes Stiller. "He had me quite scared!" And how did director Shawn Levy achieve that? "There’s literally embarrassing, humiliating footage of me with fake Tyrannosaurus talons saying 'Ra-ahh' and chasing Ben down a hallway to get a realistic reaction," Levy admitted, adding, "Then they’d erase me in the computer and put in the dinosaur. And that’s how we spent our days on this film." Back on the big screen again, and teaming up as three retiring museum guards are cinema seniors Dick Van Dyke ("Divorce American Style"), Mickey Rooney ("The Atomic Kid") and, Bill Cobbs ("The Taking of Pelham One Two Three"). "Once I saw those three actors together I knew it was going to be an embarrassment of riches having them play these characters," says Levy. "Dick Van Dyke with his svelte, debonair quality; Mickey with his charming, ‘non-tall’ quality and Bill, who has an enigmatic depth, worked so well together and truly embodied the mischievous spirit of Cecil, Gus and Reginald." Dick Van Dyke, who has endeared himself to millions of film and television fans over many decades says of the film and his fellow senior actors, Lead actor Ben Stiller makes no bones about the fact that he was thrilled to work with both Van Dyke and Rooney. "I think Dick really does have an Egyptian tablet at home that’s the fountain of youth because he’s like twice my age and I have about half his energy. He’s a great and funny actor who really knows his stuff so it was such a pleasure to watch him work." And Mickey Rooney? "I never thought I’d get a chance to work with the great Mickey Rooney, let alone be beat up by Mickey Rooney!" Also thrilled to be part of the team was African-American actor Bill Cobbs. "To have me, Dick Van Dyke and Mickey Rooney playing the bad guys is very unlikely, so you’ve got the makings of something very funny right from that idea. We look like a bunch of harmless old men but we’re not, and that’s what makes it so fun." Screenwriters Thomas Lennon & Robert Ben Garant were especially gratified by the casting of the old night guards. Lennon says: "We were thrilled by this trio; it's like a little time capsule of every funny actor since the Talkies began!" "When I read the script I knew it was that rare thing: a great all-audience film. So I said, I've got to be a part of this. It’s one of those stories I can’t wait for my own grandkids to see. And between Mickey Rooney and Bill Cobbs, we’re all about the same vintage, so we had great chemistry as these old guys willing to do anything to be young again." Rooney, who turned eighty six on the 23rd September this year, recalled the early days of his career "When I came to Hollywood, there was almost nothing here. I was right at the beginning of it and it’s been a thrill ever since." What drew him to "Night At The Museum" was what he calls the consistent heart and soul of movie-making: the story. "I think we need more pictures like this," Rooney says. "Something the whole family can see that’s historic, clever and funny. There aren't many pictures like this that can bring the whole family together in one entertainment." That lines up well with how screenwriter Thomas Lennon says he and Robert Ben Garant approached writing the story. "We didn’t even think about if we were writing for kids or for adults," says Lennon adding, "all we cared about was writing a fun, action-packed movie that everyone would love." Throw into the mix, Robin Williams, Owen Wilson, Patrick Gallagher, a bony Tyrannosaurus Rex and I'm sure cinemagoers who take in "Night At The Museum" will agree with Lennon and Rooney's sentiments. It is clever and funny! And, it certainly is fun-filled and packed with action. The Verdict "If you got a big kick out of "Jumanji" (1995) and "Zathura: A Space Adventure" (2005), then head on down to your local cinema for another entertaining film, " Night At The Museum". Clever special effects and a good cast bring life to this film about a night guard at a Museum where all the exhibits come to life after dark. It's hard not to like this film especially when you have Robin Williams, Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, Patrick Gallagher, Dick Van Dyke, Bill Cobbs and Mickey Rooney horsing around. Throw in a skeletal T-Rex, Attila the Hun, Teddy Roosevelt, a plot with a surprise twist and, a touch of romance and you have all the necessary ingredients for a fun-filled adventure suitable for kids of all age and sizes. Recommended family and adult fun. 3 1/2 STARS." Cast & Crew Bytes "NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM" stars .......
Ben Stiller ["Starsky & Hutch", "Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story", "Meet the Fockers" and "School for Scoundrels"]; Carla Gugino ["Snake Eyes", "The One", "SpyKids I, II & III" and "Sin City"]; Dick Van Dyke [TV'S "The Dick Van Dyke Show", "The New Dick Van Dyke Show" and "Diagnosis Murder"]; Mickey Rooney ["The Care Bears Movie", "Maximum Force" and "Babe: Pig in the City"]; Bill Cobbs ["The Cotton Club", "The Color Of Money", "The Bodyguard" and "The Hudsucker Proxy"]; Patrick Gallagher ["Walking Tall", "Sideways" and "Final Destination 3"], and Robin Williams ["Patch Adams", "One Hour Photo", "Insomnia", "The Final Cut" and "Happy Feet"] as President Teddy Roosevelt.
"NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM" was .......
directed by Shawn Levy ["Big Fat Liar", "Just Married", "Cheaper by the Dozen" and "The Pink Panther"]; screenplay by Robert Ben Garant ["I'm Your Man", "Taxi", "The Pacifier" and "Herbie Fully Loaded"] and Thomas Lennon ["Taxi", "The Pacifier" and "Herbie Fully Loaded" and "Let's Go to Prison"]; production design by Claude Paré ["Rainbow" and "Habitat"]; cinematography by Guillermo Navarro ["The Long Kiss Goodnight", "Stuart Little", "The Devil's Backbone" and "Hellboy"]; original music by Alan Silvestri ["Grumpy Old Men", "Judge Dredd", "Grumpier Old Men", "Eraser" and "The Polar Express"] edited by Don Zimmerman ["Liar Liar", "Patch Adams", "Just Married", "Flight of the Phoenix" and "Fun with Dick and Jane"] and costume design by Renée April ["Million Dollar Babies", "Waking the Dead", "Shattered Glass" and "The Day After Tomorrow"]. Run Time 108 minutes Rated PG [AUST] Copyright ©2006 - 20th Century Fox - All Rights Reserved Copyright Protected © 2006 - Impact Internet Services - All Rights Reserved