Night at the Museum: A Junior Novelization

One age's veni, vidi, vici is another's Manifest Destiny. History is a sequence of stories about one person taking what he wants from another just because he can. It's about the effects of unbridled power. The lesson we all know but never quite process is that we're doomed to repeat the history we don't learn from. We're doomed because the unlearned lessons are about the pain and misery that result from limited knowledge and understanding. These are the limits that kill off the part of us that can empathize with others. Night at the Museum produced by 20th Century Fox turns the dry thoughts of the above paragraph into an adventure in which T-rex skeletons, wax figures--larger than life, life size, and miniature--and mummies come to life after hours to challenge the perceptions of the new night guard, a divorced ne'er do well on the verge of losing his son to the highly successful bond-trader boyfriend of his ex-wife--herself a non-stop critic of her son's father, Larry. Played by Ben Stiller, Larry Daley can't seem to get out from under the various forms of despair he experiences until he meets Teddy Roosevelt, played sensitively and humorously by Robin Williams. Teddy is the paragon of honest curiosity, initiative, and courage who mentors Larry in his early days as night watchman. Because Robin Williams is Teddy, he is a very funny wise old sage on horseback in love with Sacagawea under glass. Night at the Museum appeals to the desire for adventure and romance--Larry loves the Carla the Docent, Teddy loves the Scout--without the violence and sex that can leave a person feeling trampled as the credits roll. There's some violence and the chase that makes an adventure flic worthy of its name, and it's just right. The chase is set in motion by Cecil, Gus, and Reginald the three night guards that Larry has replaced--Dick Van Dyke, Mickey Rooney, and Bill Cobbs, respectively. Larry does not conquer his demons in the end. He deals with them and they learn to dance with each other and life gets good. And he and his son share a secret that even the neurotic ex-wife won't be able to dismantle.

I loved this little book! Had seen the previews of the movie, and wanted to read the story. It is a charming tale of a divorced father who can't seem to hold onto a job, down on his luck, trying to do his best with his son, who lives with his mom - He finally gets a lead on a job: a night watchman at a museum filled with many wonderful exhibits. He gets the job, and to his amazement, the statues come to life at night! How he manages to bring harmony to his life and the museum is charming - It may be for young people, but the message is for everyone - Would I love to visit that museum!