Welcome to the holidays.  A stressful time for everyone, including movie studios which try to get their last hurrah in before the year ends.  One of these attempts, is Night at the Museum, a family friendly flick that will give joy to youngsters and even entertain their parents.

                     
                          Go on, shoot me with the gun, come on do it, do it!

                                  
                                            

           Night at the Museum is about good hearted Larry Daley (Ben Stiller), a man who's down on his luck in life.  He decides to look for a job so he can still be a positive influence in his son's life.  He finds a job as a museum night guard , and everything seems to be going normally...that is until the museum comes to life bringing cowboys (led by Owen Wilson), Teddy Roosevelt (Robin Williams) and other historical figures.  Its all out chaos as he tries to maintain order in the museum.

                       
                                                      RUN AWAY!!!!!

             I went into this movie with no knowledge other than the fact that it had Ben Stiller and that things came to life in the museum.   It kind of took me a while to get into the movie, but when I did, I enjoyed it tons.  Night at the Museum is a very fun movie that all ages will enjoy.  It does have a story, but the story isn't really anything that's going to win an Oscar.  This is a movie that is clearly meant for kids to enjoy, but there are still things that the adults will enjoy.

           While Ben Stiller is one of the main attractions of this movie, he isn't the one reason that you should go see the movie.  Don't get me wrong, I thought that Ben Stiller did very well in this humorous role, but there are so many other actors that help make this movie shine.  Owen Wilson (Wedding Crashers, Shanghai Noon) plays the part of miniature Jedadiah the Cowboy, and expect to laugh when you see him on screen...especially when he interacts with Roman General Octavius (Steve Coogan).  Robin Williams brings his comic side to the museum as Teddy Roosevelt, and if you like Robin Williams, you'll know what to expect out of him here.  Acting legends Dick Van Dyke, Mickey Rooney, and Bill Cobbs also make an appearance as the former security guards that help Ben Stiller ease into his position as a security guard.  Carla Gugino (Spy Kids, Sin City) has a small part as a museum guide with an interest in Sacajawea, and someone that has the eye of Ben Stiller.  Unfortunately this love subplot doesn't get much screen time, and it's left for the viewer's to comprehend. 
              
                                I can't seem to find any Dead Poets around this museum...

In the end, Night at the Museum is a very fun family friendly movie.  Its a humorous adventure that will entertain the older audience, and has some flashy CGI effects that will wow the little kids.  The story isn't impressive, but it doesn't need to be.  That's why they call it a family movie.  Don't expect too much out of it.  Just enjoy the time you have to view it with your family.

8/10

Moral Rating:
Night at the Museum is rated PG for mild action, language, and brief rude humor.  I'm happy to say that this movie is safe for the family to view.  Be warned, there is some mild language, and some mild crude humor.  There are a few action sequenences, but it's nothing too intense.