Posted by
Emmett of the Unblinking Eye on Friday, May 29, 2009 11:56:33 AM
When I was in fifth grade eons ago, my teacher Mrs. Wasser, was a big American history fan, and taught us a lot. But my most memorable experience was starring -- sorta – in a class play about American History put on for the whole school. I played a budding young scientist who concocted some potion that wound up exploding in my face offstage (can you imagine that being allowed now?), which caused me to stagger back on stage, collapse in my chair with my head on the table, and then dream about all my favorite American history characters, who were played by my classmates. Of course, I didn't see any of this, since my head was on the table and videotapes were only a dream in someone's mind, but my parents told me it was great.
Which brings me, in a roundabout way, to "Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian", which is a lot like my fifth grade play, although probably more entertaining (or at least longer). Now, admittedly, we're not talking Best Picture winner here. But "Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian" is a very entertaining summer movie that the whole family can enjoy. Ben Stiller, the titular star, is serviceable, but Hank Azaria, who voices just about everybody on The Simpsons and was memorable as Agador, the "butler" in "The Birdcage", playing the pharaoh (I think) Kahmunrah, along with The Thinker and Abraham Lincoln, , and Amy Adams (always great) as Amelia Earhart, steal the show.
And if it gets one prepubescent girl to want to learn more about Amelia Earhart, it probably accomplishes more than most films.