Night Watch

Another in our series of kid's fantasies: Night at the Museum.Ben Stiller plays a sad-sack divorced dad who is going to lose his apartment, causing his son to lose all respect for him. In desperation, he takes a job as nightwatchman in the Museum of Natural History. He will be working for fussy museum director Ricky Gervais, and replacing a trio of aged watchmen - Dick Van Dyke, Micky Rooney and Bill Cobbs.

Observation 1: Lots of cool talent in this movie. Add Owen Wilson as a tiny cowboy, at war with tiny centurion Steve Coogan, Robin Williams as Teddy Roosevelt, and you've got a movie.

The retiring watchmen try to warn him, but he kind of blows them off. So on his first night, when he discovers that the museum comes alive, he is shocked, then frightened, then threatened.

Observation 2: The museum comes alive at night! The T. Rex skeleton starts chasing bones. The little people in the dioramas start fighting. Attila the Hun and his hordes try to torture Stiller. Etc. This is a childhood dream of mine - just to stay in a museum overnight, nonetheless have it come alive. Possibly this come from reading "From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler" at a certain age. Possibly it comes from the time I planned to meet a certain someone at the entrance to the Museum of Natural History - and only found 4 of the 5 - she was waiting at the 5th. I suppose you either have this dream or you don't. If you do, this is your movie.

Stiller's first impulse is to quit. In fact, his boss's first impulse is to fire him. But he won't let his kid down, so he goes in the next night. Now he has a plan. He can handle it. He treats the museum exhibits with care and respect, and expects them to act responsibly. This may or may not work, but they certainly appreciate it.

Observation 3: The moral lessons aren't too heavy-handed: Don't give up, treat others as you would like to be treated yourself, read and learn. Stiller's character is feckless and a slacker, but his heart is in the right place, and he comes through in a pinch.

We loved it. Moves at a good clip, good gags, nice characters, museum setting. Looking forward to the sequel.

In conclusion: There's a monkey, too.