The first movie of the year featured a collision of worlds. One of my favorite actors (Adam Sandler, a one-time Best Actor winner in The Brians) and a children’s movie. The combination worked as Sandler and the supporting cast of “Bedtime Stories” got the 2009 movie season off to a great start.
When I saw the preview for the film, I wondered if it would only rely on goofy voices from Sandler and a few sight gags, like the raining gumballs scene that appeared in every commercial. But as the plot developed, you could see subtleties that made the film more than just a gofy kids tale.
I loved the word play for Abe Lincoln and incinerated. The coincidences that Skeeter saw as fate worked well. And the cast, especially Russell Brand, the leader in the clubhouse for the upcoming Best Supporting Actor Brian for his take in Forgetting Sarah Marshall, provided depth to the relatively simple story. Lastly, Keri Russell is cute.
I don’t know if Sandler has a long future in kid’s movies, but he showed that the same simple character he always plays can translate to this genre. He also managed to bring along his friends Allen Covert, Rob Schneider (with an awesome “I will do it” nod to Waterboy that went over most people’s heads) and Tim Herlihy, Sandler’s right-hand man who co-wrote the script.
Don’t sleep on “Bedtime Stories.” You won’t have any great revelation. You’ll just have fun.