There is a scene near the end of Night at the Museum where chaos is ensue. Animals and mannequins from around the world and throughout history are running amuck and making a hideous mess, but no one is actually accomplishing anything. The screen is full of lots of action and characters in motion but nothing of interest is going on. Everyone is just moving round for the sake of moving around. This scene explains the entire movie.
Stiller plays a single father who gets a job as a night watchman at a museum. At night everything comes to life. The monkey steals his keys and Attila the Hun chases him around a bit. Teddy Roosevelt gives him worthless speeches about being a leader. His son is disappointed in him, until he gets to visit the Museum.
The plot, what there is of one, is about three retiring guards who rob the museum on Stiller's watch. They steal many things including an Egyptian tablet that is responsible for bringing everything to life. It is up to Stiller and the mannequins to stop them. Oooooh, the tension!
My favorite character in the entire movie is Mickey Rooney's tough guy guard. He constantly taunts Stiller and tries to fight him. He is over 80 years old but he brings the most life to this movie. Stiller and Williams, who have been so good in so many movies, initiate very few laughs.
From dinosaur bones to Christopher Columbus, this movie throws a lot at you but nothing sticks. Cavemen play with a fire extinguisher. A statue from Easter island calls Stiller "Dum Dum" and asks for "Gum, gum." Roman miniatures battle with cowboy miniatures. A Pharaoh comes to life. So much is happening while so little actually happens.
As a last note: It is completely clear that whoever wrote this movie has never worked an overnight shift. Stiller's character is never, ever shown going to bed, let alone acting tired!
