Stamp of Approval

(In order to avoid making May the least-blogged month since 2005 when I didn't have the internet in my home, I'm offering two posts back to back.)

Faithful readers know I only like movies that nobody has heard of, the ones the average Joe thinks are too slow, too boring, plotless, or just downright weird. The more subtitles, the better. The quirkier, the better. Never showing up at the local cineplex, just right. Documentaries, the best.

So you might be surprised to hear my official endorsement of Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian, but here it is.

Now, I probably wouldn't have willingly gone out to see this film on my own accord. The three fifth grade teachers put a dinner and a movie date up for auction at the recent school fundraiser. So yesterday afternoon, we took four boys out for pizza and then to see the flick at the local theater that offers four dollar matinees.

I was the one to suggest Night at the Museum, seeing it as one of the best student-teacher compromises possible. Up, of course, would have been as well, but that wasn't the movie playing at the local four-dollar theater, not to mention I would prefer to see it on my own or with my wife. (Can't wait to see it tomorrow!) Originally, the students requested Dragonball Evolution. I had no idea what it was, but I could tell by the title it would have been a miserable experience, and boy was I glad when I found it had already left the theaters.

It must be said that I fell asleep during the first Night at the Museum, but I remember not being terribly excited about it when I was awake. I remember Ben Stiller fighting with a monkey, and I remember not laughing like I was supposed to. All that to say, if you're playing the sequel-comparison game, I'm bowing out.

And I'm quite surprised to go on Rotten Tomatoes and see a disappointing 44% for what I thought was a lot of fun. Maybe that speaks to the importance of so many factors and variables surrounding a good movie experience. I had no expectations whatsoever, no knowledge of the content, I was in a good mood on a Friday afternoon, I was watching it with kids, and I only paid $4 to see it. All of the above helps. Oh, and I stayed wide awake, which always really helps.

Without further ado, here are 8 reasons I loved Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian:

8. So many historical characters coming to life in one place.

7. The interesting sub-theme--a satire, almost?--on how we love to create one-dimensional caricatures of those historical figures for our own use and sense of understanding. Custer was so much fun.

6. Even the pieces of art were coming to life! And they led to an absolutely enchanting, wonderfully imaginative sequence.

5. Cameos from The Office and Judd Apatow flicks, some of the best people in comedy today. Jonah Hill's no-touching-my-name-isn't-Brandon scene had me laughing SO hard. These people understand good, smart comedy. It's all about delivery, rather than profanity or vulgarity or being just plain weird. (OK, sometimes it's about those things too, especially when Judd Apatow is involved, but it wasn't here.) Christopher Guest was a little more than a cameo and a little less than hilarious, but I loved that he was in it and I loved that it took me forever to finally realize it was him.

4. Likewise, Ricky Gervais can just open his mouth and I giggle. Doesn't matter what he says. Mouth opens, I giggle. It's him and Steve Carrell and Jack Black who have that strange magical power over me.

3. I don't want to be one of these stuffy old-fashioned types, but really, it's just refreshing to laugh at something that's only rated PG.

2. The Roman solider drama scenes, also a creative and insightful piece of humor.

1. Amy Adams has started to lose her 'moxie' in my mind, to use her character's words. But here, as Amelia Earhart, she was totally wonderful, definitely made the film, and made me a believer in her acting again.