Rewind Back to 2006: “Night at the Museum” (20th anniversary)

“Night at the Museum” premiered in NYC on December 17, 2006, and was released in the US on December 22 of that year. Even though it received mixed reviews, it still earned $574.5 million worldwide ($250 million domestic). The 2006 movie eventually turned into a franchise: “Battle of the Smithsonian” in 2009, “Secret of the Tomb” in 2014, an animated Disney Plus spin-off (“Kahmurrah Rises Again”) in 2022 and a potential reboot that’s currently in development.

Dreamer Larry Daley think’s he’s destined for something big, but his imaginative ideas never pay off and in desperate need of a job, he accepts to be a security guard at the Natural History Museum. During his watch, Larry makes a startling discovery.

Thanks to the unleashing of an Egyptian curse, the museum’s exhibits spring to life after the building closes. Larry must find a way to save the chaotic situation.

The 2006 movie “Night at the Museum” is a highly entertaining movie for the entire family as it brings a highly imaginative, universal childhood fantasy to life. While critics gave it mixed reviews, general audiences and families turned it into a massive hit by embracing its unique blend of comedy and spectacle.

The core hook - “What if everything in the museum comes alive at night?” - was not only instantly understandable but also universally appealing. Set in NYC’s American Museum of Natural History, the movie easily transformed an educational setting into a playground of history, mythology and imagination.

While Ben Stiller grounds the movie as a relatable everyman and a struggling dad, the supporting cast actually steals the show. Robin Williams (R.I.P) brought genuine heart, gravitas, and of course, comedic warmth as a wax figure of Teddy Roosevelt.

Both Owen Wilson and Steve Coogan deliver stand out comedic chemistry as the miniature rivals turned allies Jedidiah (a wild west cowboy) and Octavius (a Roman

general). Another casting highlight are the actors who play the sneaky veteran night guards Dick Van Dyke, Mickey Rooney and Bill Cobbs (may not be a recognizable name, but you know his face).

There’s also plenty of recurring bits that the whole family will still enjoy, such as Larry playing fetch with a giant, puppy-like T-rex skeleton (“Rexy”), Larry’s ongoing slapstick feud with Dexter the mischievous monkey and the Easter Island’s head’s famous line calling Larry “Dum-Dum” and asking for “Gum-Gum.” The movie also captures the nostalgic, family-friendly adventure vibe of classics like “Jumanji” or “The Goonies,” as it balances family drama with brisk action-comedy without leaning into overly cynical or crude humor.

The overall response to this 2006 movie “Night at the Museum” was highly successful financially, though it received a mixed reception from professional film critics. Audiences and families embraced the movie as a heartwarming, highly imaginative holiday blockbuster.

MPA: Rated PG for mild action, language and brief rude humor   (runtime 108 minutes)

Initial release date: December 22, 2006

Streaming service: Disney Plus/various PVOD services   (as of working on this review)

https://youtu.be/Ltba1_-tRT4?si=0975riatBHUHdfgd

• The real-life American Museum of Natural History had 20% more visitors during the holiday season following this movie's opening.

• Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson were only on-set together for one day. Stiller talked to a toothpick for the Jedediah scenes. Wilson filmed all of his parts three months later.

• Owen Wilson's role as Jedediah was supposed to be a cameo (which is why he's uncredited). His character tested so well with the audience, they expanded the role.

• (at around 1h 17 mins) When the night guards chase Nick up the stairs, only Dick Van Dyke performed the stunt himself. The other two actors required younger stunt doubles.

• Film debut of Rami Malek.

• Larry's inability to remember Christopher Columbus' name is a wink and a nod to producer Chris Columbus.

• Despite their respective careers of more than fifty years each, this is only the second time Mickey Rooney and Dick Van Dyke have worked together. Their first being The Comic (1969).

• Ben Stiller watched Mission: Impossible (1996) and Mission: Impossible II (2000) in order to run the way his long-time friend Tom Cruise does.

• The script was originally written with Eddie Murphy in mind. Murphy reluctantly had to turn the film down because of a clash of filming dates but his brother, Charlie Murphy, does have a small cameo role in this film.

• (at around 36 mins) Larry asks Teddy if he can ask him a question and Teddy replies "Yes, but only one." Larry's response "What is this, some kind of three wishes thing?" Robin Williams (Teddy) voiced Genie in Aladdin (1992) and Aladdin and the King of Thieves (1996).