Bedtime Stories (Walt Disney Pictures)
Adam Sandler At His Family Friendly Best
Adam Sandler is one of the funniest men alive but you wouldnt know it from some of his latest movies. Reign Over Me and You Dont Mess With the Zohan were two of his lesser efforts. But now comes Bedtime Stories and it features a clean, family friendly Sandler and the movie is a total joy from start to finish.
Sandler plays Skeeter Bronson, a handyman at a hotel owned by Barry Nottingham (Richard Griffiths), a friend of his fathers (Jonathan Pryce). Nottingham actually got the land for his hotel from Skeeters father with the promise that Skeeter would one day run the hotel. But that hasnt happened. The heir apparent to Barry appears to be a kissup named Kendall (Guy Pearce).
One day Skeeter is babysitting his sisters kids and is telling them a bedtime story. The kids (Jonathan Morgan Heit and Laura Ann Kesling) add some twists to the plot for fun. Then the next day the points the kid have added start coming true. This leads to Skeeter coming up with some really inventive stories that the kids can add to in unique ways.
The love interest in the film is played by Keri Russell. She plays a teacher at the school where Skeeters sister (Courtney Cox) is the principal. She also shares babysitting duties with Skeeter. Lucy Lawless shows her comedic skills by playing Aspen, another kissup in the hotel business.
The weak link in the film is Russell Brand who plays one of Skeeters co-workers. He tries to be ingratiating but is actually annoying. Much more fun is Rob Schneider who has a cameo as a pickpocket.
Other Sandler favorites such as Carmen Electra and Blake Clark make brief appearances in the movie. It is always good to see Sandlers loyalty staying intact. He has a core group of actors who pop up in just about every film.
Sandler actually creates a believable character in this movie and he is warm, funny and totally appealing. It is his best acting job since Fifty First Dates. Keri Russell makes a good co-star for him even though Drew Barrymore is the best at matching Sandlers kooky sense of humor.
The film is rated PG for mild profanity and some adult situations.
If you are looking for a good family film that will keep the children enthralled while also entertaining the adults, this is it. My wife, mother in law and grandkids all loved it and that covers a wide variety of tastes.
I scored Bedtime Stories a happily ever after 7 out of 10.
