Night at the Museum MPAA Rating: PG Entertainment: +3 Content: +3

Ben Stiller, Robin Williams, Carla Gugino, Dick Van Dyke, Mickey Rooney. Comedy/adventure. Directed by Shawn Levy.

FILM SYNOPSIS: Good-hearted dreamer Larry Daley (Ben Stiller) accepts what appears to be a menial job as a graveyard-shift night watchman at a museum of natural history. But during Larrys watch, something extraordinary happens: the museums exhibits magically come to life. A fearsome T-Rex insists on a game of fetch (with one of his own skeleton bones); Mayans, Roman gladiators, and cowboys emerge from their dioramas to wage epic battles; and a wax figure of Teddy Roosevelt gives Larry important advice while harboring a crush for an Indian princess. As things spiral out of control, Larry must find a way to manage the magic and stop a nefarious plot to steal that magic.

PREVIEW REVIEW: I kept thinking, this is a very strange movie. Not only do these people and creatures come to life at night, but they are wax figures. How do wax figures come to life? You see, while I try to keep my pragmatism in check when reviewing movies, that pragmatism only goes so far. Heres Teddy Roosevelt giving our put-upon hero life lessons, when suddenly he announces he was made in a wax works factory. So, its silly business. Then and I wont give it away but I dont get the thinking of the thieves. Their reasoning seemed too manufactured, too forced, much like a great deal of the films humor.

Okay, theres the Grinch side of me. Its not a film Id watch again, but I was listening to fellow film watchers as they exited and their reactions were positive. It was lighthearted, exciting, fresh and clean. It was a film parents could view with kids. And although it has lots of chase scenes, the filmmakers are careful to handle the material with a PG rating in mind. And Ill give you this: Mr. Stiller proves he can hold a comedy together without being crude or excessive. And Robin Williams makes a bully Teddy Roosevelt. He seems to even revere the 26th President. You think he knows that Roosevelt was a Republican?

Preview Reviewer: Phil Boatwright
Distributor: 20th Century Fox