Night at the Museum (PG)

Stiller dodges CGI creations in cute adventure.

(Flash is loading. If this text does not disappear you need to install the latest flash version)

About Our Ratings
Common Sense rates it
3
Seen the movie? Review it
5820_orig.jpg
Movie details
  • Studio: Twentieth Century Fox, Twentieth Century Fox
  • Directed By: Shawn Levy
  • Cast: Carla Gugino, Ben Stiller, Robin Williams
  • Running Time: 100 minutes
  • Release Date: 12/22/2006
  • Video/DVD Release Date: 04/24/2007
  • Genre: Family and Kids
  • MPAA Rating: PG
  • MPAA Explanation: mild action, language and brief rude humor.

Parents need to know

Parents need to know that kids will definitely want to see this much-hyped, effects-heavy adventure. The effects are good (the dinosaur skeleton is especially fun), but the plot is uneven and the action hectic, with some point-of-view camerawork that could potentially startle younger viewers. The movie features spastic, cartoonish violence by the museum exhibits that come to life. This includes shooting (Civil War soldiers), explosions (miniature cowboys and miners), poison dart-shooting (miniature Mayans), chasing and hunting (dinosaur skeleton, lions), fighting, and car-crashing. Weapons include arrows, swords, guns, catapults, spears, axes. There's a repeated joke about Attila the Hun's preference for ripping off victims' limbs. Larry has an antagonistic relationship with a monkey and repeatedly disappoints his son (who acts sad) -- until the end, when he's impressed by his father's quick decision-making.

Families can talk about the message behind all of the fancy effects. Why is it the important to pursue your dreams -- and to learn, read books, and discuss ideas as you do so? How is Larry inspired by his new friends to go after his dreams?

Message

Social Behavior:

Larry's ex-wife laments his lack of focus and stability; Larry tries to inspire his young son to pursue his dreams; museum antics are occasionally obnoxious (especially a monkey who urinates on Larry, then engages in a slapping contest with him); Larry is framed for a crime.

Consumerism:

Thematic: The museum is in need of advertising to bring in more visitors (this is achieved by accident).

Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:

Violence

Lots of comic crashes and falls. Repeated scenes in which soldiers and other warriors fight (shooting, explosions, fighting, swords), though none of these encounters leads to visible/lasting injuries (some charring following explosions). A little truck carrying two characters crashes and disappears in smoke and a teeny fire. Some scary moments, as when the dinosaur skeleton and Attila the Hun chase Larry. Larry and a monkey fight repeatedly: The monkey steals keys, pees on Larry, slaps Larry (who slaps back). Characters with a bad motive kick and flip Larry.

Sex

Mild flirting between Larry and Rebecca; Teddy Roosevelt admires Sacajawea through his binoculars (prompting Larry to ask, "Are you checking her out?").

Language

"Oh my god," "for god's sake," "don't be a kiss-ass," "screwed up." Gus calls Larry names ("weirdy," "cupcake," "hopscotch"); Jed calls him "gigantor" and they discuss name-calling.

Common Sense says

What's the story?

Reviewed by Cynthia Fuchs

In an effort to maintain contact with and provide some level of stability for his 10-year-old son, Nicky (Jake Cherry), divorced father Larry (Ben Stiller) needs to get a job. To that end, Larry applies to be a night guard at New York's Museum of Natural History, a job he believes will be "ordinary." So he doesn't really listen when retiring security guards Cecil (Dick Van Dyke), Reginald (Bill Cobbs), and Gus (Mickey Rooney) advise him to read their handwritten instruction manual and follow the steps exactly and in order. When Larry falls asleep on his first night, he wakes to find that an amazing change has occurred: The exhibits have come to life! The next few nights offer more of the same and a deepening relationship between Larry and the historical figure to whom he feels a particular affinity, Teddy Roosevelt (Robin Williams). Not only must Larry find a way to bring the nightly chaos under control, he must also stop thieves from stealing treasure from the museum.

Is it any good?

3
Mostly cute and often spastic, NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM runs out of story early. Although the individual creatures can be entertaining, the film is repetitive and too invested in its silly explanation of how the coming-to-life phenomenon came about (something about an Egyptian pharaoh's tablet). The movie makes a cursory case for the significance of the "first working mother," Lewis and Clark guide Sacajawea (Mizuo Peck), even though -- stuck behind a soundproof glass exhibit -- she's unable to speak or hear the action for much of the film. And it even promotes reading, as Larry researches all his new charges in a bookstore (apparently in one day). Entertaining as it is, though, Night at the Museum falls short of "greatness" ... not that kids will care.

Related Video

Other choices

Support Common Sense Media
Common Sense Media is a non-profit and will receive a portion of your purchase from Pricegrabber. Learn more.

Parents and kids say

All Reviews

There are 114 reviews.

4


Posted on 12/23/07 by ac7193 Kid contributor, age 13

A great movie for children!

This movie is excellent for children to watch expect they prbably won't understand the main reason why the museum takes its place in the movie. Larry, the main character in the film, is a very big loser. He doesn't support his son and is divorced. Children may not get these kind of things in the movie, but they will obviously like it. I think this movie could've gotten away with a G rating. I hope you (and your kids if you have any) enjoy(ed) the film.
Age 8+
4


Posted on 09/29/07 by quest13 Adult contributor

Barly a Pg film

SO FUNNY,a kid movie which parents will love, and a good clean message/flick you'll die for it!
Age 8+
3

Posted on 09/14/07 by Anonymous Adult contributor

My 6 year old enjoyed this movie very much. It prompted discussion of history and some of the historical figures featured in the film. The only bad thing was that she took to calling her sister Dum-dum like the Easter Island head did in the movie. Overall, enjoyable for all in the house.
Age 5+
4


Posted on 08/27/07 by caijti Adult contributor

3


Posted on 07/31/07 by dustygun Kid contributor, age 14

5


Posted on 06/23/07 by moviebash Kid contributor, age 11

5

Posted on 06/21/07 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 9

FUNNY!!!

It's just really good.
5


Posted on 06/17/07 by Cartoonguy11 Kid contributor, age 11

3


Posted on 06/15/07 by markb4 Kid contributor, age 16

Funny and Fun

There's not much of a plot, but it is very funny and fun for both kids and grown-ups alike. It is pretty clean except for a brief use of the word, "ass", but not in that sense.
Age 5+
4


Posted on 06/12/07 by jpschouest Adult contributor

Very Funny

I thought it was great kid's movie.

See all 114 reviews >

Adult Reviews

There are 71 reviews.

Age 8+
4


Posted on 09/29/07 by quest13 Adult contributor

Barly a Pg film

SO FUNNY,a kid movie which parents will love, and a good clean message/flick you'll die for it!
Age 8+
3

Posted on 09/14/07 by Anonymous Adult contributor

My 6 year old enjoyed this movie very much. It prompted discussion of history and some of the historical figures featured in the film. The only bad thing was that she took to calling her sister Dum-dum like the Easter Island head did in the movie. Overall, enjoyable for all in the house.
Age 5+
4


Posted on 08/27/07 by caijti Adult contributor

Age 5+
4


Posted on 06/12/07 by jpschouest Adult contributor

Very Funny

I thought it was great kid's movie.
Age 13+
0


Posted on 05/30/07 by katsismax Adult contributor

Stupid

This movie was too far fetched for starters. I did not want to see it in the first place because I don't care for Stiller. One thing I caught, made me go HuH? He states at one point that he is making $11.50 an hour at this job. Where in New York can you rent a decent apartment that you would be willing to have your child stay on visitation, on $11.50 an hour? Dumb movie, ONLY part I found amusing was Owen Wilson's little character.
Age 5+
3

Posted on 04/29/07 by Anonymous Adult contributor

Great Movie!

I thought this movie was great. I even saw it two times. At first I thought you couldn't make a movie about a guy who disdcovers one night that everything comes ot life at night in this museum, but it was much more then that. I think this movie is great and kids can learn a couple of things from this movie. Owen Wilson, Robin Williams, and Ben Stiller are all hilarious and they are all in this movie which makes it so funny. There are also some serious parts in this movie. This movie does really take place at the Museum of Natural History and it is a great museum for this movie. I recommened this movie fo rkids 7 and up.
Age 2+
5

Posted on 04/28/07 by Anonymous Adult contributor

Very cute

My 2.5 and 5.5 year old kids really enjoyed this and so did I. My kids love dinosaurs so they were not at all afraid of Rexy running around.
Age 8+
4


Posted on 04/26/07 by tackyspoons Adult contributor

Age 5+
5


Posted on 02/22/07 by hampton32 Adult contributor

A Classic!!!

What a great concept! A natural history museum that comes to life? My 6 year old and I were laughing out loud, looking at each other in the darkened theater, and then laughing some more. Referring to Mickey Rooney (who has an excellent cameo appearance), she said, "Who is that man, Mommy? He's so funny." Some humor is purely for the adults (e.g. slapping the monkey) and over the heads of the children. I can't wait to buy it on dvd and watch it again.
Age 8+
4

Posted on 02/19/07 by Anonymous Adult contributor

My kids and I laughed and they couldn't wait to see it again!

This was a great movie! At first it seems a little scary, but then it ends up being funny. It was also educational - without the kids realizing it. The kids wanted to see it again and take Dad - who also liked it a lot. A great family movie. Wish they'd make more like it.
See all 71 adult reviews>

Kids Reviews

There are 43 reviews.

4


Posted on 12/23/07 by ac7193 Kid contributor, age 13

A great movie for children!

This movie is excellent for children to watch expect they prbably won't understand the main reason why the museum takes its place in the movie. Larry, the main character in the film, is a very big loser. He doesn't support his son and is divorced. Children may not get these kind of things in the movie, but they will obviously like it. I think this movie could've gotten away with a G rating. I hope you (and your kids if you have any) enjoy(ed) the film.
3


Posted on 07/31/07 by dustygun Kid contributor, age 14

5


Posted on 06/23/07 by moviebash Kid contributor, age 11

5

Posted on 06/21/07 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 9

FUNNY!!!

It's just really good.
5


Posted on 06/17/07 by Cartoonguy11 Kid contributor, age 11

3


Posted on 06/15/07 by markb4 Kid contributor, age 16

Funny and Fun

There's not much of a plot, but it is very funny and fun for both kids and grown-ups alike. It is pretty clean except for a brief use of the word, "ass", but not in that sense.
4


Posted on 06/11/07 by zohargirl8 Kid contributor, age 10

Muesum night

i personally enjoyed this movie alot. it had some humor. i loved the monkey the most! this movie was about a boy's dad who had trouble keeping a job for more than a month. in this movie the boys dad got a job at a muesum as a night guard, where he is chased by a dinosaur, attacked by a monkey and is set up so as it looks like he stole a egiptian amulet. my little brother agrees he has this to add, there are 3 men that when it gets dark get super-strength. my little brother also enjoied the party at the end!
4

Posted on 06/09/07 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 13

Geat movie!

Grand movie.Their is only one curse word i can recall in the movie,1 s.
5

Posted on 06/09/07 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 8

a good movie

night at the museum was a really good movie. it was so good that i almost want to watch it again!
5

Posted on 05/27/07 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 12

See all 43 kids reviews >
Review It
more
Who's your favorite TV holiday special character?
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
26%
The Grinch
34%
Frosty the Snowman
11%
Charlie Brown
18%
Shrek
10%
208 votes