Dir. Adam Shankman, US, 2008, 98 mins
Cast: Adam Sandler, Keri Russell, Guy Pearce, Teresa Palmer, Courtney Cox, Russell Brand
Review by Michelle Moore
Adam Sandler has been the funny man in many hilarious comedies over recent years, mainly aimed at an adult audience, from Mr Deeds and the Wedding Singer, to Big Daddy and The Longest Yard . This Christmas however, he has turned his attention to Disney. With Bedtime Stories he is looking for a smash hit that will appeal to younger audiences.
This is Sandler's first appearance in a Disney film and there was a little wariness about his ability to perform for a younger crowd of film fanatics, not being sure he was going to be up to the challenge. However, he approaches the task with dedication, less adult humour and a thirst for entertaining youngsters. In his role of hotel handyman Skeeter Bronson, his life is turned sideways, when he is left looking after his niece and nephew, while their mother is away finding a new job and what he thinks is just a made up bedtime story for the kids each night, suddenly takes on a life of its own and becomes reality – in some sense at least. He tries to take advantage of the situation and turn it to his own benefit, but he has no control over the children's imaginations and it is their contribution that sends Skeeter's life in a new direction.
Wherever Sandler goes, the hilarious comedy follows. In this film, however, it comes from a variety of sources and not just from his character. Sandler is a comedian, but when surrounded by the likes of Russell Brand, a large eyed hamster called Bugsy, raining gumballs, a hotel owner with Mysophobia (a fear of germs) and two children with very creative imaginations, anything is possible. It is this imagination and creativity that rages through the film, filling it with a beauty that children will love and in which adults too will get caught up. Tales in outer space, ancient Greece and the Wild West are all woven into the stories Skeeter tells. The settings for the stories are remarkable and fashioned to the child's imagination, right down to the red horse. And though in reality, things are less enchanted and more down to Earth, they still remain true to the tale that has been told.
After seeing Cox‘s performance in feature films such as The Shrink Is In and the Scream trilogy, it is fair to say she has moved right away from being known as just Monica Gellar. In this film she plays a somewhat neurotic single mother and very entertaining she is, especially when engaged in conversation with Skeeter. The casting of Brand as Skeeter's work colleague Mickey seems somewhat odd, but he manages to keep the language and adult humour under control and in fact gives a loveable and very funny performance, especially with his night terrors and his final outfit.
Skeeter says in the film that there are no happy endings, but in this case he is wrong. Bedtime Stories is a pleasure to watch and a wonderful tale for the entire family to enjoy this festive season. If you are heading out this holiday, forget the sales and head to the cinema. The children will appreciate it.
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