 |
Bedtime Stories
| Movie Rating: |
 | 6/10 |
|
| DVD Rating: |
| 7/10 |
|
| Overall Rating: |
| 6/10 |
|
Movie Details: View Here
|
Starring:
Adam Sandler
Guy Pearce
Keri Russell
Special Features:
Features Not Specified
Other Info:
Video: Widescreen 2.35:1 Color (Anamorphic)
Audio: English: Dolby Digital 5.1
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1
French: Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles: Spanish, French
Run Time: 99 min
Rating: PG
Synopsis from DVD Cover:
Funnyman Adam Sandler stars in Walt Disney Pictures' Bedtime Stories, the magical family comedy that's packed with adventure and lots of heart. When Skeeter Bronson (Sandler) babysits his sister's (Courteney Cox) children, his imagination runs wild as he dreams up elaborate bedtime stories - always casting himself as the hero. Entranced, the children add their own ideas to these once-upon-a-time tales of heroics and chivalry. Then...magic happens. These nighttime fantasies become Skeeter's daytime realities, leading him on a real-life adventure in search of his own happy ending. Filled with colorful characters, humor and whimsy, this heartwarming comedy will enchant your entire family again and again.
Quick Review:
Bedtime Stories is definitely a kid's movie. There's a cute, bug-eyed CG Guinea Pig, fart jokes, and a Booger Monster. Parents shouldn't be too horrified, though, if they're forced to rent this one - if nothing else, Russell Brand adds that same memorable touch that elevates a film that he added to "Forgetting Sarah Marshall."
Skeeter Bronson (Adam Sandler) works the handyman gig at the motel formerly owned by his father; now it's a luxury hotel under the management of hotel gazillionaire Barry Nottingham (Richard Griffiths). Back in the day, Barry promised Skeeter's dad that, if Skeeter grew up to show potential, he would win the "keys to the kingdom" and take his place running the motel. Skeeter, however, isn't the manager-type, so he's kind of settled for being the help. When Nottingham decides it's time to revamp the hotel, however, Skeeter thinks it may just be time to claim his rightful spot. Around the same time, Skeeter discovers that the wild bedtime stories he tells his niece and nephew are becoming reality - which becomes both fantastic and not so great, sometimes both at once - but when the stories stop coming, he has to figure how to deal with a world that's no longer such a fairytale.
Parents renting "Bedtime Stories" know this is no "Toy Story" or "WALL-E," but Sandler and Russell are innocuous and likeable, and we don't mind wandering around with them for an hour and a half or so. One of the best elements of the film is that despite its predictability and booger moments, there's an imagination and fun that's missing in a lot of "family" movies, and it never feels like the filmmakers are condescending to their intended audience. There are issues - some of the "special effects" aren't so much and cross the border into cheesy, and Sandler's playing a guy he's played many times before in different incarnations - but just as Skeeter - and Sandler - often seem to relate better to anyone under twelve than their adult peers, so does this film, which means if you're looking for a little bit of funny, you could do a lot worse than "Bedtime Stories."
It's a pretty good Special Features selection: "Until Gravity Do Us Part," which is all about the special effects (even though they're not always the best, the guys doing them know their stuff); "To All The Little People" is a featurette with kid interviews; "It's Bugsy" details training and acting with a guinea pig (he's not all CG, just his eyes). The bloopers section is called "Laughter is Contagious," and they're funny - there could've been more, though, I'm sure. Finally, there are Deleted Scenes, some not so funny, a few actually worthy of NOT being cut.
In Conclusion:
Sure, there's a lot of kid's stuff, but "Bedtime Stories" is harmless, fun, and watching Guy Pearce do that musical scene makes it all worth it!
|
