Review of Bedtime Stories (2008) by Scott B — 27 Dec 2011

First of all let me make it clear I realise this movie is targeted primarily towards children whereas I'm 24. Having read a couple of short reviews though I was actually quite excited and looking forward to seeing this. Yes, Adam Sandler is very hit and miss but I've loved some of his previous-'Big Daddy', '50 First Dates', 'The Waterboy', 'The Wedding Singer' etc.

This started promisingly-the gumball rain was a particular treat but soon the bedtime story scenes became silly and erratic, almost farcical.

There were a couple of nice action sequences-saving Teresa Palmer from the paparazzi, saving the school via a quickfire action-packed motorbike ride- and a predicatable love story (starring a beautiful Keri Russell) which helped add a touch of class and normality to proceedings.

Elsewhere the two child actors perrformed their limited roles adequately and even Russell Brand-who I DO NOT usually enjoy-tickled me at times. But Guy Pearce was wasted as a ridiculously silly being-a-twat-for-the-sake-of-it baddy role.

I suppose throughout the movie I laughed out loud maybe 4 or 5 times but the premise of the movie never really shone through-I even got confused as to who had to say what for this or that to happen. And also-Sandler never actually came up with a specific idea for the theme of the hotel! And come on!-on setting up his own hotel at the end of the film would he really employ Pearce/Lawless!!!???

Overall I'd give it a 3.5/10-thanks mainly to gumballs, a motorbike jaunt and the casting of Keri Russell.