Knowing Ben Stiller was in this film, I figured I was in for some laughs. I just didn't know that this movie would be so funny.
Larry Daley (played by Ben Stiller) needs a job in order to still live in the same house with his son. His other job opportunities, including working with the snapper, have all failed him, and so he readily agrees to take a job that has been turned down by many men before him: night time security at the Museum of Natural History.
Upon his interview, Cecil, one of the three - ready to retire - night time security men, is convinced that Larry is the one. The one who can handle the job. Little does Larry know what he's getting himself into.
Cecil had warned Larry that the most important rule was to not let anything in ... or out. Larry soon finds out the puzzling rule when on his first shift, he finds out that upon night fall, the museum's history comes to life because of a curse within King Ahkmenrah's tablet. He's left to deal with many crazy situations: Roman and Western miniatures that just do not get along, raging lions, playful dinosaurs, talking rocks, savage-like Neanderthals, raging huns and a playful little monkey, Dexter, to name a few. On the first night, Dexter manages to get hold of Larry's very important instruction sheets and he rips them up. They were the key to Larry's survival in the museum, and now he is left to figure out how to handle the chaos that erupts in the museum come nightfall.
Ready to give up after only one night, Theodore Roosevelt encourages Larry to keep pressing on, and Larry manages to hang onto the job for a while longer, though it won't be smooth sailing. Just about everything goes wrong. The worst is to come when someone tries to steal Ahkmenrah's tablet, which is the key to the life of the museum. Larry, his son - who he brought along to work to impress - and all the 'exhibits' need to find a way to stop the thieves. Of course, more things step in the way of doing so and all the characters need to find a way to work together to solve their problems.
All the problems lead to quite comical situations. The personalities of the characters are highlights of the humour. There were so many parts that I found myself laughing, and I could see myself watching this movie again. Maybe it is because I've taken higher history courses than required, or that I have worked in a museum, but I'd say this movie is a great one for laughs.
Some parts seemed 'cheesy', and others unrealistic, though I guess the whole situation was unreal. Dick Van Dyke's character, Cecil, was better played out at the beginning of the film and I was a little disappointed by his performance later on in the movie. All in all though, it's definitely worth an A.
Knowing Ben Stiller was in this film, I figured I was in for some laughs. I just didn't know that this movie would be so funny.