Bedtime Stories Review

Adam Sandler movies seem to be one-trick ponies, the only difference being how good that trick is. This has especially been true lately with disappointments like Zohan and Chuck and Larry, leaving the future of Sandler’s career in question. However, Happy Gilmore< might now have a found himself a newer and more appropriate niche for his acting style: kids movies. It’s not all that surprising; almost all of Sandler’s previous comedies had that “good guys finish first” vibe to them, even if they were more suitable for adult audiences. His newest vehicle Bedtime Stories defied most of my expectations. It’s not incredible by any means, but for a family movie, it’s very entertaining.

To start, Bedtime Stories is a kids' movie. Let me repeat, Bedtime Stories is a kids' movie! This is not Happy Gilmore or The Waterboy; it’s marketed completely towards families. I think a lot of people who were disappointed with it did not realize this coming into it. The humor’s pretty juvenile and it ends as sappily as a movie can. But past all this, Bedtime Stories is a great movie to take kids too.

The film follows Skeeter Bronson (Adam Sandler), a middle aged, glorified janitor with not a lot of direction in his life. He works for Barry Nottingham, a rich hotel tycoon who purchased the land from Skeeter’s father when it was still a humble motel. Now looking to build another hotel, Nottingham seems to have forgotten his promise to Skeeter’s father to make his son manager (hint hint hint). Skeeter’s mundane life is turned upside-down however when his sister entrusts her two kids to him for the week. To keep them entertained, he tells them bedtime stories inspired by his own frustrations that day. To his surprise, the parts the kids make up happen to him the next day. Coincidence? Hint: It’s not.

It doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but Bedtime Stories very smoothly balances the main storyline with these “fantasy sequences.” Everyone in the film acts their part well enough and there are some very memorable characters and performances. The only problem I really saw with it was the relatively poor CGI. This wouldn’t have been such a big deal if the film didn’t insist on using them in almost every “bedtime story” scene. Overall though, both provide a good vehicle for Sandler’s usual slapstick comedy and the imagery is definitely something kids will love.

Overall, Bedtime Stories is a great movie for kids and families. Sandler and crew provide some great laughs and the film ends on a very happy note. It might not be deep, compelling, or very complex in any way, but it’s certainly fun and that’s all that really matters to children.