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Directed by: Shawn Levy Starring: Ben Stiller, Robin Williams, Mickey Rooney, Dick Van Dyke, Bill Cobbs also starring: Owen Wilson makes an uncredited appearance. Ann Meara, Ben Stiller’s mother, makes an appearance. Saw this last night (premier) with a bunch of 12-14 year-olds I was chaperoning. The trailer worked for me, although I am not a huge fan of Ben Stiller or Robin Williams (after about 1989). The theater was half-empty, surprising for opening night. I’m guessing that there was a lot of negative buzz. Stiller plays a rudderless divorced father. He takes a job as a night watchman in a museum to, among other reasons, demonstrate to his young son that he can find steady employment. The trailer lays out the meat of the story line. The family subplot is minimal. Van Dyke, Rooney and Cobbs were unexpected treats. I found the film to be a lot of fun, and funny. The herd with me want to see it again, and are still talking about it. It didn’t have any dead spots. It received a vigorous ovation, and I hope the buzz fills the seats. Robin Williams and Ben Stiller were both admirably restrained. That having been said this is not a critic’s film, so the weighting of reviews on sites like Rotten Tomatoes (about 50/50 at this writing) is not a surprise. I like a good, fun film, and this one definitely fits the bill. Another minor con were a couple of glaring continuity errors, but most people did not seem to notice them. It moved along well, and was funny. CGI was excellent and used appropriately. Mickey Rooney (whom I thought passed on years ago) was a hoot. RATING: 4 PROS: Well-paced, Funny. CONS: Subplot lines are not fully sketched-out and a bitt ragged. Continuity errors. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: http://imdb.com/title/tt0477347/
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Dec 24, 2006 04:07
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| # ? Apr 25, 2024 23:36 |
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I thought this was fun, visually exciting, and enough laughs to keep me interested in the film. Owen Wilson wasn't completely annoying, which is an accomplishment in itself. Ben Stiller doesn't so much act as he makes surprised faces at what's happening around him for two hours, but that's about all I expected. He's not the star of this movie, the museum, and the production crew that had to put that together, are. Bring your kids and history buffs. 3.5/5
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Dec 24, 2006 17:24
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Just got back from seeing this and don't understand why many aren't liking it. I smiled through the whole movie and enjoyed Stiller's performance. I could not believe they threw in a Brokeback Mountain reference by Wilson in the movie. Everyone in my theatre got it and burst into dying laughter. Out of nowhere! 3.5/5
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Dec 25, 2006 07:42
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Just got back from seeing this with the wife and kid, and we liked it a lot. The theater was packed, as in every seat full, and the film was well received. Some fairly clever dialogues and situations, and of course the to-be-expected humor of Stiller/Wilson. It may be just me, but I like them the best when they are doing the fake/over the top sympathetic/understanding bits (little Attila, he had something ripped out...his heart). Overall, 4/5, and for a seasonal flick, 5/5. ps: I AIN'T QUITTIN' YOU!
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Dec 25, 2006 23:43
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Pros: Nice idea (the book is probably fantastic). Cute scenes that your children or your girlfriend will enjoy. Cons: Horrendous acting from (almost) the entire cast. Worse script. Nearly devoid of humor. Besides being full of holes, the plot is weak and feels forced at the end. This movie contains magic and imagination that some of us miss so much from our childhood. Unfortunately, it's a lovely movie. 1.5
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Dec 29, 2006 04:39
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Saw this last night with my friends. I'm not a huge fan of Ben Stiller, so I wasn't expecting much, but the movie was surprisingly VERY entertaining. I haven't laughed out loud in a movie theater in a long time. The scene where Owen Wilson and Octavius are letting air out of the tires is HILARIOUS! 4/5
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Dec 29, 2006 06:03
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I thought it started out to be a wonderful throwback to the great Disney films of the 60's I loved as a kid. Mickey Rooney and Dick Van Dyke were nice casting touches. Halfway through, however, it started to feel like a knock-off of those flicks. They went for too many kid-movie cliches and character development was nearly non-existent. I'm not even sure why they bothered with Carla Gugino's character, she doesn't have much to do here. That said, it's a fairly fun film, especially for kids. Stiller has a few funny moments. 3/5
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Jan 2, 2007 04:26
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It was a fairly good movie. I laughed alot. It was a pretty cut and paste plot, and anyone over 13 could easily tell what would happen next. What made it unique and bearable was that it was delivered well, and the jokes were actually good. I went in with low expectations, but I was suprised. It's not a masterpeice, but it's something I actually wouldn't mind seeing again. + for Ahkmenrah and Attila the Hun. + for the villanous Dick Van Dyke, Mickey Rooney, and Bill Cobbs - for monkey jokes. They're old. - for the Deadbeat Dad tries to earn childs love subplot. Overall, a 3.75/5
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Jan 3, 2007 19:24
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Man, I don't know if my place got a rough cut. But in about 6 scenes, there were boom microphones in FRONT of people's faces. Other then that, it was a fun movie.
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Jan 5, 2007 01:34
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Xiu Xiu posted:Man, I don't know if my place got a rough cut. But in about 6 scenes, there were boom microphones in FRONT of people's faces. That's what happened when I saw Stranger than Fiction. Very disctracting. I really enjoyed Night at the Museum. It definitely had it's flaws (weak plot, not MUCH character development, overall just a quick movie) but it's more of a children's movie so I'm quick to forgive. The tire scene with Owen and Octavius was definitely the funniest part. 4.0
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Jan 5, 2007 06:25
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lauratiny posted:That's what happened when I saw Stranger than Fiction. Very disctracting. I don't get that. Some theaters get rough cuts or something? That doesn't make sense to me.
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Jan 5, 2007 10:07
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| # ? Apr 25, 2024 23:36 |
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I noticed the mic booms as well. They were there at least 3 times that I saw and I wasn't really looking for them. Overall, I have to say I was disappointed by Night at the Museum. Night at the Museum is pretty much a comedy with a gimmick. A very expensive and interesting gimmick. But even gimmick movies need some sort of feeling of suspense or excitment. I was dissapointed that a lot of the exhibits that come to left just felt like ornaments. After the initial novelty and jokes of the different exhibits coming to life, they didn't grow on me much. I thought it was weired that the antaganists in the movie pretty much appear in cameos. I could be wrong I can't remember a film with less plot development or face time for the antagonists. 2.5
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Jan 6, 2007 00:34
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