Night at the Museum (2006)

Director:

Shawn Levy

Writers (WGA):

Robert Ben Garant (screenplay) &
Thomas Lennon (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

22 December 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Comedy | Family | Fantasy

Tagline:

Everything comes to life.

Plot:

A newly recruited night security guard at the Museum of Natural History discovers that an ancient curse causes the animals and exhibits on display to come to life and wreak havoc.

Plot Keywords:

Museum | Night Watchman | Watchman | Cowboy | Skeleton

Awards:

1 win & 8 nominations

Cast

Ben Stiller	...	Larry Daley
Carla Gugino	...	Rebecca Hutman
Dick Van Dyke	...	Cecil Fredricks
Mickey Rooney	...	Gus
Bill Cobbs	...	Reginald
Jake Cherry	...	Nick Daley
Ricky Gervais	...	Dr. McPhee
Robin Williams	...	Teddy Roosevelt
Kim Raver	...	Erica Daley
Patrick Gallagher	...	Attila The Hun
Rami Malek	...	Ahkmenrah
Pierfrancesco Favino	...	Christopher Columbus
Charles Q. Murphy	...	Taxi Driver (as Charlie Murphy)
Steve Coogan	...	Octavius
Mizuo Peck	...	Sacajawea

Also Known As:

Night at the Museum: The IMAX Experience (USA) (IMAX version)

MPAA:

Rated PG for mild action, language and brief rude humor.

Runtime:

108 min

Country:

USA | UK

Language:

English | Italian | Hebrew

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS (uncredited)

Certification:

USA:PG (Approved No. 42837) | Finland:K-11 | Ireland:PG | Singapore:PG | Germany:6 | Australia:PG | UK:PG | Malaysia:U | Hong Kong:I | Philippines:G (MTRCB) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Argentina:Atp | Peru:PT | France:U | Brazil:Livre | Greece:K | Portugal:M/6 | Sweden:7 | South Korea:All | Netherlands:6 | New Zealand:PG | Canada:PG (Canadian Home Video rating)

Filming Locations:

American Museum of Natural History - Central Park West and 79th Street, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

Alan Silvestri replaced John Ottman as score composer.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Larry breaks the case that Sacajawea is in, you can clearly see the ball bounce off of the glass.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Taxi Driver: [as Larry walks into the street] Hey, watch it!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Troldspejlet: (#37.1)" (2007)

Soundtrack:

September

Finally, a real family film

What a cast! Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, Robin Williams, Dick VanDyke, Mickey Roney, Bill Cobbs...

I'm not a Stiller fan, but in this one he was really great, he steps out of his usual shtick to really anchor this movie. For once he doesn't seem to be trying too hard and avoids overdoing it.

This is one of Robin Williams' better modern roles, he's toned down but still quintessentially Williams. It was nice to see him in a role that he can both take seriously *and* have some fun with it.

Owen Wilson is still awesome, basically reprising his Shanghai Noon character, but with a cute, rather unexpected twist.

Dick Van Dyke, Mickey Rooney and Bill Cobbs are classic, they haven't lost a step. Rooney is still the little bantam rooster with the attitude! Van Dyke clearly anchors the trio. Cobbs wasn't given much to work with for his character, but his quality shines through. These veteran comedic actors bring a bit of class and legitimacy to the film.

The movie is well paced, jumping almost directly into the action, with plenty of laughs. From Rexie's puppy-dog antics to the war between Old West Cowboys and Roman Centurians, there is something around every corner.

The only stinker in this film is the kid. He's totally under-utilized for the storyline, they could have improved the storyline by either leaving the kid out of the movie entirely, or by giving him something to do. The pseudo-love-interest, too, should have either been played up or left out.

This is an entirely enjoyable family film. My 87 year old grandmother-in-law loved it, as did my 9 year old daughter and my teenage sons! Truly something for everyone.