Bedtime Stories

Adam Sandler, when given the right script, can be hilarious, (Billy Madison & Happy Gilmore) or can fall flat on his face. (I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry, Airheads) Bedtime Stories is his first real foray into the little kids' territory. Although there's some cool action sequences and Russell Brand is funny, I hope it's Sandler's last kids movie, he just isn't meant for Disney.

He plays a hotel handyman named Skeeter whose ridiculously uptight sister makes him watch her children for a couple of days. The kids' normal stories consist of 'The Organic Squirrel Gets A Bike Helmet', so Skeeter decides to improvise his own stories. But then the next day they begin to come to life, which brings problems, as only the things the kids say come true.

Sandler is just fine. Nothing new or inventive, but he's not awful. It seems after last summer's Zohan, which was something of a change for him, he's back to his old acting style. Not awful, not great either.

The huge-eyed pet guinea pig (so enthusiastically displayed in the trailers) is initially cute, and still is, but he's a one-note joke. Adam Sandler says something, the guinea pig responds with a cute noise. Cue the 'awws'. It must be said though, the CGI pig does look horrifically fake.

The problem is simply, its not very involving, and the pace is awful. At the very beginning, the traditional family movie music begins, and some REALLY overenthusiatic narration begins. The corniness hardly lets up. Most of the 'stories' are fairly lame, although one with Sander as a cowboy shows the potential the film had, and missed.

Russell Brand, a raunchy British comedian, is the last person on Earth one would expect in a Disney movie. Which is why its so ironic he's the funniest person in the movie. He has about 10 lines, but they're the best in the movie.

It's sort of sad how much potential Bedtime Stories had. It has a great premise and some good scenes, but the pace is horrible and only kids under 8 can honestly enjoy it. C-