Night at the Museum (2006) – Nostalgia Central

A T-Rex skeleton, statues of Attila the Hun and Teddy Roosevelt, and stuffed lions are among the exhibits that come to life in Night at the Museum, creating havoc for the new night guard.

Since he’s played by Ben Stiller,  there are laughs. But otherwise, you’ve seen the concept before, in Jumanji (1995).

Stiller is Larry Daley, a divorced dreamer who has trouble holding down jobs.

When he’s threatened with losing his son, Larry takes whatever job comes along. It’s the night guard at the Museum of Natural History in New York.

On his very first night, Larry discovers an incredible secret: an ancient Egyptian artefact – the Tablet of Ahkmenrah – brings all the exhibits in the museum to life from sunset to sunrise.

Larry must quickly learn how to control the chaotic exhibits while uncovering a sinister plot by the museum’s retiring security guards – Cecil, Gus and Reginald (played by veteran Hollywood actors Dick Van Dyke, Mickey Rooney and Bill Cobbs) – to steal the tablet for its life-giving magic.

Film special effects have become so commonplace, but it’s still amusing to watch the skeleton of a T-Rex sip from a drinking fountain, and tiny men battle from competing dioramas – Owen Wilson plays a miniature cowboy named Jedediah from a Wild West diorama and Steve Coogan is Octavius, a Roman general from an adjacent display, and the pair wage a tiny, continuous war against each other.

There’s also a mischievous capuchin monkey named Dexter, who constantly torments Larry by stealing his keys and biting his nose.

Yet there’s a tired aspect to this saga, along with some inconsistencies.

The statues aren’t the real Roosevelt and Attila. Teddy even admits he’s a wax mannequin. So, how are they empowered with the original personalities and knowledge of the characters?

If you find yourself worrying about such things, you’ll probably be a bit bored.

Thankfully, Stiller generates humour, as does Robin Williams, well-cast as Roosevelt. But it’s not enough.

The film launched a major franchise, including two sequels – Battle of the Smithsonian (2009) and Secret of the Tomb (2014) – and an animated spin-off film, Kahmunrah Rises Again.

Larry Daley
Ben Stiller
Rebecca
Carla Gugino
Cecil
Dick Van Dyke
Gus
Mickey Rooney
Reginald
Bill Cobbs
Nick Daley
Jake Cherry
Dr McPhee
Ricky Gervais
Teddy Roosevelt
Robin Williams
Erica Daley
Kim Raver
Attila the Hun
Patrick Gallagher
Ahkmenrah
Rami Malek
Christopher Columbus
Pierfrancesco Favino
Taxi Driver
Charlie Murphy
Octavius
Steve Coogan
Sacagawea
Mizuo Peck
Neanderthal #1
Kerry van der Griend
Neanderthal #2
Daniel Joseph Rizzuto
Neanderthal #3
Matthew Harrison
Neanderthal #4
Jody Racicot
Don
Paul Rudd
Debbie
Anne Meara
Jedediah
Owen Wilson
Merriweather Lewis
Martin Christopher
William Clark
Martin Sims

Director
Shawn Levy