12/28/08

Bedtime Stories

Adam Sandler ("Click" and "The Wedding Singer") is once again playing the man/boy that has made his career the success that it is, despite doing commendable work in projects like "Reign Over Me." At least it is under the Disney brand, so his behavior has been toned down and his character has reasonably good manners. He is a maintenance man in a large hotel, on property previously owned by his father.

Courteney Cox ("Friends" and "The Tripper") is his sister, mother of his niece and nephew. She must go out of state for a job interview, so he shares babysitting duties with a friend of hers, played by the luminous Keri Russell ("Waitress" and "August Rush"). The story gains momentum when he tells bedtime stories to the aforementioned niece and nephew, only to have the stories come to pass the next day. Naturally he tries to tweak this phenomenon but the results turn out pretty iffy.

The plot is flimsy, the acting is serviceable and the characters are caricatures, but there was one actor who surprised me: Guy Pearce! This hard-working Australian always surprises me. In "L.A. Confidential" he played a conflicted dramatic role. In "Memento" the challenges caused by his memory loss were almost palpable. In "Traitor" he was a focused intelligence officer. But in this one? He's a rich man's nephew, a slimy, backside-kissing sycophant! Is that too subtle? Not only that: He sings! He dances! He does pratfalls! I think Mr. P. must have grown bored with standard drama and has gone goofy for a change. It took me awhile to adjust my expectations...

This movie is made for children by Disney, so they WILL be amused, there WILL be a moral, and they WILL enjoy a happy ending. 'nuff said...