Night at the Museum (2006)

Thankfully, most people probably won't see it that way. Parents will simply cherish the film as a rare comedy that is simultaneously smart, funny, and, save for a couple of mildly crass moments, almost completely family-friendly, without the smug condescension or nauseatingly hip pop culture references and fart jokes that tend to mar so-called children's movies as of late. Kids—and older movie buffs with a taste for adventure and spirited frivolity—will savor the movie's wit and its high-speed adventure. And anyone who remembers the big-budget action-comedies of the 1980s—gloriously silly movies like Ghostbusters—will wonder what the heck is going on.

Ben Stiller as Larry and Robin Williams as Teddy Roosevelt

Indeed, Night at the Museum is a breed of film that's all too rare these days. Though it draws some comparisons to Pirates of the Caribbean and especially Elf, it's still a noticeable abnormality—a big-budget, live-action concoction of comedy and adventure that makes no pretense of being anything other than a two-hour romp through goofy humor, history-buff in-jokes, kooky physical comedy, and high-speed chase scenes. They just don't make 'em like this anymore.

Stiller stars as Larry Daley, an undisciplined entrepreneur whose brilliant money-making schemes—like a virtual driving range—always fizzle out into wasted potential. Larry's unstable lifestyle is worrisome to his ex-wife (Kim Raver), who wants a better environment for their son, Nick (Jake Cherry), so Larry buckles down and lands a job as a night watchman for a local natural history museum. It's a lame setup—all family-movie clichés and Mrs. Doubtfire-esque broken family drama—but things quickly get better when Nick meets the three outgoing security guards whom he is to replace—a trio of oldtimers played by Dick Van Dyke, Mickey Rooney, and Bill Cobbs. These guys are, of course, old comedy pros, and they're charming and funny enough to deserve their own movie.

Mickey Rooney, Dick Van Dyke, and Bill Cobbs are terrific as three senior security guards

Unfortunately, they don't tell poor Larry about everything that goes on in the museum at night. They leave out minor details like, oh, the fact that all of the exhibits come to life at night. Soon, Larry is understandably bewildered to find himself in the middle of a veritable indoor jungle, fighting off a horde of angry Huns, an army of miniature cowboys, Roman soldiers, a mischievous monkey, and a skeletal T-Rex.

You can probably guess what happens next. There are scenes of squeamish, cartoony violence, well-choreographed chases through the museum, and physical comedy that involves Larry and the monkey slapping each other repeatedly in the face. Larry vows never to come back, receives some sage advice from Theodore Roosevelt (Robin Williams), shares some tender moments with his son and an attractive museum employee (Carla Gugino), comes back after all, learns some lessons, uncovers the ancient mummy curse that has wrought havoc upon the museum, and resolves to save the day. There's even time for a few more yucks with the three old guys along the way. Yes, it's predictable. No, it's not going to be mistaken for high drama. Yes, if you're used to a diet of arthouse cinema and foreign flicks, this stuff is probably beneath you.

Larry falls victim to a literally miniature diorama cowboy, played by Owen Wilson

Only, the whole thing is very, very funny. The action and adventure consistently work. It's exciting even when you pretty much know what's going to happen. It doesn't take itself too seriously, and it never topples under its own weight. In fact, it's hard to believe that it's directed by Shawn Levy, the man whose dubious credits include Cheaper by the Dozen, The Pink Panther (2006), Big Fat Liar, and a whole bunch of mediocre TV shows. Looks like he's finally getting the hang of things; Museum is explosively fun, and it leaves some room for actual storytelling amidst all the spectacle.

Of course, it's hard to mess things up when you're working with talented actors like these. Ben Stiller's career has been hit-and-miss recently, and this should be the hit he needs; it's his Elf in more ways than one, and, though he's no Will Ferrell, his familiar screen persona serves him well here. Robin Williams is suitably dignified as the charming President Roosevelt (incidentally, this film bears more than a slight resemblance to Williams' hit Jumanji). Steve Coogan is brilliantly absurd as a pint-sized Octavius. Ricky Gervaise is hysterical as the flustered, inarticulate museum director. And Owen Wilson, as an equally miniature cowboy, pretty much sticks to his usual schtick—in fact, he's basically reprising his role from Shanghai Noon—but he gets some of the film's funniest lines, and his laid-back demeanor always makes him a great foil for Stiller's hysteria.

With a T-Rex skeleton close behind, Larry runs for his life

Oh, and it doesn't hurt that they're all working from a script written by Thomas Lennon and Ben Garant, two of the masterminds behind TV's edgy comedy Reno 911!, who thankfully keep things reasonably clean and family-friendly without dipping into schmaltz or treacle. About the only caveats are one use of bad language and a scene of a monkey urinating on Larry's head.

Despite the almost incessant hilarity and inanities, there is a message amid the madness—the film actually has some wise and not-too-preachy things to say about perseverance, vision, dreams and responsibility. Ol' Teddy Roosevelt tells Larry on more than one occasion that not all men are born great—some have greatness thrust upon them. He exhorts Larry to strive for greatness rather than simply sit back and wait for it to find him. He affirms the importance of dreams and also responsibility.