Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian **

Cast: Ben Stiller, Amy Adams, Owen Wilson, Hank Azaria, Robin Williams, Christopher Guest, Alain Chabat, Jake Cherry
Director: Shawn Levy
Running Length: 1:45
MPAA Classification: PG

The magical tablet that brings exhibits to life is transferred with a number of the exhibits to the Smithsonian. Larry Daley (Stiller), now an inventor, realizes that this could be a problem, and travels to Washington, D.C. to avert disaster. By the time he arrives, Pharaoh Kahmunrah (Azaria) is planning to take over the world with the help of Napoleon (Chabat), Al Capone (Bernthal), and Ivan the Terrible (Guest). Larry rallies his troops, including Jedediah (Wilson) and Amelia Earhart (Adams) to stop him.

Given the success of the first “Night at the Museum”, a sequel was inevitable. Unfortunately, there is not much story-wise here. What story there is has plot holes, as the script doesn’t like to follow its own rules. The effects are top-notch like in the first film, but that is hardly enough to make this worth seeing. The one bright spot is the always adorable Amy Adams, who gives yet another standout performance. Kids will undoubtedly enjoy this, but adults will find the film lacking. Wait for DVD if you must see this.

Tropic Thunder ***1/2

Tropic Thunder ***1/2Cast: Ben Stiller, Jack Black, Robert Downey Jr., Brandon T. Jackson, Jay Baruchel, Danny McBride, Steve Coogan, Nick Nolte, Tom Cruise, Matthew McConaughey
Director: Ben Stiller
Running Length: 1:46
MPAA Classification: R

On the set of a Vietnam movie, the start are proving difficult for director Damien (Coogan) to handle. Those stars include: Speedman (Stiller), a one time action star whose better days are behind him; Portnoy (Black), a heroin-addicted funny man whose fame is a result of fart jokes; and Lazarus (Downey Jr.), an Oscar-winning method actor that has received “pigment alteration” to play a black soldier. Damien decides to take the stars to the jungle and shoot the film guerilla style, hoping for realism. A land mine and some drug dealers change the equation, and soon the line between fiction and cold hard reality are blurred.

“Tropic Thunder” is a satiric look at the movie industry on all levels. Director Stiller obviously knows the industry and is not afraid to show the less glamorous side of things. Somewhat surprisingly, of the three leads, the non-comedian Downey gets the biggest laughs. Tom Cruise is also excellent and almost unrecognizable as a studio executive. There is plenty of action here too. This is a really funny movie that gives a non-flattering look at the movie business. I highly recommend this film.

Starsky and Hutch ***

Cast: Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, Vince Vaughn, Juliette Lewis, Snoop Dogg, Chris Penn, Terry Crews, Will Ferrell
Director: Todd Phillips

Starsky & Hutch is the latest 70's television show to receive an upgrade to the movie screen. Was this necessary? Probably not, but the result is a really funny movie. Taking the "Brady Bunch" approach, and placing their tongues firmly in cheek, Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson assume the roles made popular on the small screen so many years ago. Ben Stiller is the somewhat anal Starsky and Owen Wilson is the laid back Hutch. And while there is a plot somewhere in there, the movie's focus is the relationship between the two. After being teamed together, they are out to bust a drug dealer, played by Vince Vaughn, who has developed cocain that cannot be detected by narcotics dogs. The plot allows them to go undercover, get some girls, and have some action scenes. I firmly believe that there will be a sequel to this, especially if the film does well (which I think it will). Stiller and Wilson have a comroderie that has worked well in previous movies, and is even more evident here. If you are looking for a laugh, check out Starsky & Hutch.

Along Came Polly ***

Cast: Ben Stiller, Jennifer Aniston, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Debra Messing, Alec Baldwin, Hank Azaria, Bryan Brown
Director: John Hamburg

Reuben Feffer's marriage is over before it begins when he catches his new wife with a scuba instructor on their honeymoon. Returning home distraught, his best friend, Sandy, drags him to a party where he is reunited with Polly, a girl he has not seen since high school. They start dating, and while attracted to each other, they are complete opposites. This is a genuinely funny movie, and Ben Stiller is in his element. Philip Seymour Hoffman steals the show though, as Sandy, the one time child actor and best friend of Reuben. Funny and well worth your time.