Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian

A summer blockbuster with a feminist edge? Yes, that is indeed what we find with the Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian. The film opens with Ben Stiller’s character, Larry Daly, finding himself longing to return to the New York Museum of Natural History in spite of his entrepreneurial successes. He returns just in time to save his museum pals from deep storage in Washington, DC. The story unfolds from there with Stiller searching to save his friends in a (Freudian) attempt to recover a part of himself. 

Reprising the characters from the first film,Night at the Museum, Robin Williams as Teddy Roosevelt, Ricky Gervais as the quixotic museum manager, and Mizuo Peck as Sacajawea can all be counted on to provide solid belly laughs. Owen Wilson as Jedediah Smith alongside Steve Coogan as Octavius make an inimitable duo whose humor is witty and clever. This sequel also introduces the audience to new characters—notably Bill Hader’s General George Armstrong Custer (or Pawhuska for you Black Elk fans), who is brought to life in a way that is both historically accurate and hysterical. 

Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian was developed in close conjunction with the Smithsonian Institution in order to be as true-to-history as possible. Amy Adams brings Amelia Earhart to life in the most genuine and charming way possible by highlighting her brilliant aeronautic pioneering and the way her passion for life inspired the best in those around her. In addition to screening the IMAX version of the film at both the National Air and Space Museum and the Natural History Museum, the Smithsonian will be hosting Night at the Museum sleep-overs for kids this summer. Little did James Smithson know when he left his bequest for the "increase and diffusion of knowledge" that his desire would grow to its current state of 139 million objects displayed at nineteen museums, nor was he aware that his gift would be featured in such a way on the big screen.

Whether you visit Washington, DC on the big screen, or make a summer holiday of it, you will not be disappointed. Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian is a smart, funny, and absolutely enjoyable film.

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