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Bedtime Stories
Directed by: Adam Shankman Starring: Adam Sandler Genre: Comedy/ Fantasy Run Time: 99 min. Release Date: December 2008 On The Web: Official Site Teaser: Movie Trailer Reviewed by Byron Merritt |
Okay, so this film isn’t original, challenging or anything that would be considered "high cinema". But it is entertaining and pretty darned funny, which is why I gave it a lukewarm positive review rating. I give it a positive rating with a serious note of caution for Mr. Sandler. Now I’m not an Adam Sandler fan and, in fact, have often avoided his childish and mindless comedies (I point you to the insipidness that is LITTLE NICKY, MR. DEEDS and, well ...you can look up the rest). However he has surprised me on occasion with a flash of talent in such things as SPANGLISH and REIGN OVER ME. But, in truth, looking at the trailers and reviews of BEDTIME STORIES, I was more than just a little hesitant to check it out. My big note of caution comes in the form of another early actor who lately has been putting out some of the worst films on celluloid. I’m talking about Eddie Murphy. Murphy’s early career reads like the who’s-who of great comedies: 48 HOURS, TRADING PLACES, and the king of them all, BEVERLY HILLS COP. These are films that are ingrained in the cinematic community. But look at what he’s done lately and you can’t help but become a tad nauseous. NORBIT, THE HAUNTED MANSION, DADDY DAY CARE and the abominable THE ADVENTURES OF PLUTO NASH. And that terrible list seems to be growing. Where Murphy apparently has fallen down is in that he’s trying hard (and it’s obvious he’s trying too hard) to be family friendly. Everything he’s done lately has been PG or friendlier. I’m not saying that PG films can’t be good, it’s just that they can stifle the creative process as production companies attempt to appeal to a broader audience. Which brings us back to Bedtime Stories... It’s PG. It’s good. It’s not great. And it nearly slips into the shoddy category, but doesn’t for a few reasons that aren’t necessarily related to Sandler. The main attraction (for me, at least) was watching the two young kids, Jonathan Morgan Heit and Laura Ann Kesling. It is their infectious and animated actions that made the movie oh-so-watchable. One scene in particular that has stuck with me is when Bobbi (Laura Ann Kesling) is in the bathroom and has shaving cream all over her head and says, "I"m Princess Leia!" Whenever Sandler is onscreen with the kids, the interest and impact of the story grows tenfold. And it’s not just because that’s when the bedtime stories are taking place, but because of the kids’ interactions with Sandler and his responsiveness to them. This made it, dare I say, very family friendly and will probably bring a smile to the hardest of hearts. So, yeah, this is a fun film. It won’t expand your consciousness or challenge your kids to learn anything new. But it will entertain them and maybe, just maybe, you might like it too.
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Image from Bedtime Stories
DVD cost: $35.03 Film Review Stew Favorite? No. Stew Poo-Poo? No. Newsworthy: The bulldog shown in the movie is Adam Sandler's beloved pet, Motzaball. Movie Quote: "What do you got here, anyways? 'Rainbow Alligator Saves the Wetlands'? Uh, no. 'The Organic Squirrel Gets a Bike Helmet'? I'm not reading these Communist books to you guys! Don't you got any real stories?"
Other Actors/Actresses from Bedtime Stories
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Images from Bedtime Stories
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