Blu-Ray Review: Bedtime Stories
Adam Sandler Tones Down Schtick in Pleasant Family Film
Apr 18, 2009
Directed by Adam Shankman (Hairspray), Bedtime Stories is a fairly well written kids' movie, about keeping hope in one's goals, while making sure one doesn't lose sight of what is important in life, such as love and family.
Bedtime Stories Synopsis
Skeeter Bronson (Adam Sandler) is a fairly laid-back custodian at a large hotel chain. The son of the original owner of a small hotel in the current business' same spot, Skeeter has fond memories of his father, and his pleased his father's friend, current chain owner Mr. Nottingham (Richard Griffiths, Uncle Dursley of the Harry Potter films), still kept him on as the years went by.
Hoping that Mr. Nottingham will honor an old promise that he would someday hand over the reigns of the hotel chain to Skeeter, our friendly janitor is disappointed, when he is passed over in favor of corporate suck-up and sycophant Kendall (Guy Pearce, Memento, Traitor).
When Skeeter's sister Wendy (Courteney Cox, TV's Friends) has to travel out of state and asks him to look over his nephew and niece Patrick and Bobbi, the ill-equipped uncle reluctantly accepts this task, and finds time to babysit them, alternating shifts with Wendy's teacher friend Jill (Keri Russell, TV's Felicity).
While taking care of his young relatives, Skeeter comes up with inventive bedtime stories for them, usually drawing from his current situation and problems, for material. As he tells them of stories (with him as central character) involving swashbuckling, cowboys, Roman gladiators and space fights, Skeeter soon realizes that the elements added into the mix by his equally inventive young wards, tend to more or less come true the next day.
It doesn't take long before Skeeter tries to steer his young audience into spinning positive, possibly lucrative outcomes for himself. This meets with mixed results, and is the cause of many action packed adventures for good old Skeeter.
When Mr. Notthingham does end up offering a contest between Kendall and Skeeter as to who would have the best idea for a themed hotel chain, Skeeter goes for broke, with the help of his sister's kids for inspiration.
With so much on the line, Skeeter relies on his friends to win the day...assuming he does so.
Bedtime Stories Overall Analysis and Blu-Ray Features
While it is refreshing to see Sandler avoid crass remarks for the sake of a good chortle, the heart of this film lies in the writing. It isn't unusual to see big name Hollywood types going for the kiddie fare once or twice in their careers (as have Mr. Schwarzenegger in Jingle All the Way, Eddie Murphy in several Disney projects, and many others).
Sandler knows to have enough fun with the story, without resorting to banal dialogue, and generic childish goofery. Relying upon his quick-fire sarcasm and physical comedy presence, Sandler comes off as believable as Skeeter, a simple guy who just wants to get a break for once.
The romance in this film is muted down, and doesn't overshadow the underlying story, that of a janitor whose dreams may come true, while looking after two kids he loves, and trying to save the day as any decent guy would.
Though Keri Russell and Courteney Cox don't have too much screen time in this movie, they play well opposite Sandler, as do the kids who play Cox's children. Sadly, Lucy Lawless (of Xena and Battlestar Galactica fame) has very little to do here, playing a devious schemer in support of the ruthless Kendall.
As for the extras on this Blu-Ray disc, look for very little of interest, as it merely provides a small, uninteresting featurette about Bugsy the guinea pig with the giant eyeballs (in the film, anyway), and a look at the special effects used to bring the bedtime stories to life.
The one marginally decent extra is the blooper reel, and even then only a handful are actually funny, while the rest is merely a patch-up of on-set antics, rather than actual outtakes.
This 3-disc set comes with the usual Disney format used of late, consisting of the Blu-Ray film with extras, a digital copy, and a standard DVD copy. This is a clever idea, in that it allows viewers to cover the gamut of their experience, whether they've upgraded to HDTV or not.
Bedtime Stories offers enough laughs and fun to satisfy an evening of family viewing, and in true Disney fashion, doesn't show an ounce of risk for the kids to be subjected to any undue content normally expected from such a character as Sandler.
7 out of 10, for being an entertaining family film, a worthwhile, toned down Sandler, but with a supporting cast that doesn't bring their A-game.
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