NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM

STARRING: Ben Stiller, Robin Williams, Carla Gugino, Kim Raver, Mickey Rooney, Dick Van Dyke, Bill Cobbs, Ricky Gervais, Rami Malek, Paul Rudd, Steve Coogan, Owen Wilson

2006, 131 Minutes, Directed by: Shawn Levy

Description: Good-hearted dreamer Larry Daley (Ben Stiller), despite being perpetually down on his luck, thinks he's destined for something big. But even he could never have imagined how "big," when he accepts what appears to be a menial job as a graveyard-shift night watchman at a museum of natural history. But during Larry's watch, something extraordinary happens: the museum's exhibits magically come to life. A fearsome T-Rex insists on a game of fetch (with one of his own skeleton bones); Mayans, Roman Gladiators, and cowboys emerge from their diorama to wage epic battles; and a wax figure of Teddy Roosevelt gives Larry important advice while harboring a crush for an Indian princess. As things spiral wildly out of control, Larry must find a way to control the magic to stop a nefarious plot and save the museum. — Amazon.com

At night a cursed ancient Egyptian artefact makes all the displays in a New York museum magically come to life in this hit comedy and a newbie night security guard has to cope with it all. Think Jumanji (Robin Williams is also in this flick), but with wax statues of Teddy Roosevelt and the bones of a huge T-Rex being reanimated and you’d have a good idea of what to expect.

Unfortunately what promises to be a fun Spielbergian romp for the whole family is a bit on the bland and mediocre side. It just never is that funny or exciting even when a subplot involving thieves wanting to steal said Egyptian artifact kicks in. The action mostly consists of people running around and screaming a lot.

The sort of movie that is fine and undemanding whilst watching it, but which you’ll forget ever having seen in a few weeks’ time.