Friday, March 16, 2007

Night at the Museum


I decided I needed to go see a movie the other night and I was too late to catch anything up in Salt Lake. I hadn't seen a movie in a theatre this week so far and the desire to do so was pretty much overwhelming. Knowing full well that there would be nothing to see at the local multi-plex, I went anyway. I figured that watching literally anything would be better than not going to the movies.

When I arrived at the box-office I realized how right I was in my grim assessment of the pickings.

300: Already saw it, no interest in seeing it again.

Number 23: I've successfully boycotted Joel Schumacher since he took a big flaming turd on Batman.

The Ultimate Gift: Pass.

Smokin' Aces: It started two hours previous.

And the list went on and on like this until our choices were narrowed down to two: Ghost Rider and Night at the Museum. I'm a huge nerd (as most of you know) and that's the only reason Ghost Rider was still on the table. And Night at the Museum looked sort of okay, but it's like three weeks away from being released on DVD, right?

Maybe not, but anyhow, I went to Night at the Museum.

It wasn't bad. In fact, I really enjoyed myself. In fact, I think it was like a 7 and half out of ten. Some of the screenwriting was a little weak and there were a few scenes that Ben Stiller just didn't manage to carry (but maybe it's because I don't think he's as funny as everyone else does) but other than that it's solid and fun.

The plot is simple but dwells in that fantastical realm of 80s movies where One-Eyed Willie has a pirate ship full of treasure waiting to be found, 'Toons can commit grizzly acts of murder, November 5, 1955 was a red letter day for science and the Shankara stones can hold the fate of hundreds of Indian villagers. It felt very much like an 80s movie and that's pretty much a good thing.

I mean, it was thoroughly enjoyable and I couldn't ask for much more than that.

And the only thing I would have to add to a write up of the film is a note on a couple of hilarious bit-parts: Dick Van Dyke, Mickey Rooney and Steve Coogan.

Those three were riotously funny and should be in more movies.

2 comments:

Reel Fanatic said...

Coogan was indeed fantastic, as usual ... I normally have little time at all for either Stiller or Robin Williams, but they were both great too .. an all-around surprisingly good flick .. and I'll watch Carla Gugino do just about anything, though she really didn't have much at all to work with here

Anonymous said...

I love how you have to justify seeing a movie because you think it's a childish one.

It's cute.

LMAO.