The day it was announced that Night at the Museum was coming back, I was excited because I'm a big fan of the first three films; but even though I was excited, I did have my concerns.
I'm not a fan of this movie, but I do like the idea that the movie was animated. This was a great way to continue the franchise since there won't be a live action sequel anytime soon. As much I like the 2d animation and some of the background designs, I'm not a fan of some of the characters designs. I can tell the character designer didn't want any of the characters we all know and love, from the original series, to not look anything like they did back in the old films.
One of my biggest complaints about this movie is the writing; the jokes were horrible, too many jokes kept coming from every corner to the point it felt like a Disney channel sitcom with no laugh track(because most of the jokes were bad); Kahmunrah's return could've been better if it had been written better. Instead it only felt like Battle Of The Smithsonian all over again with nothing new.
The writers also made the characters we know from the last three movies annoying. Nicky is a wimp and not confident like in the last movie; in addition the other characters were acting out of character. One of the things the exhibit characters did that was beyond out of character, was when they scared away night guard Ronnie in the beginning of the movie. Sure I bet the writers were trying to get Nicky to become night guard somehow, but it doesn't just make the exhibits look bad, it makes them immature. The exhibits in the original franchise would've gave Ronnie a chance, not threaten him.
This movie had a bunch of continuity eras. For example the events of Secret Of The Tomb(last film) weren't mentioned here as if that movie never happened; Ahkmenrah is not even in this movie, only mentioned once by Theodore Roosevelt but not by name but rather by the fact that he is the younger brother of Kahmunrah. I could tell Theodore Roosevelt or the other characters didn't know him in this movie as if he never existed, not to mention the Tablet of Ahkmenrah is only called "the tablet".
There were some things I did like about this movie. One thing in particular was the music (very similar to the first three movies). Alan Silvestri didn't return to do the music for this film but Joe Paesano did a wonderful job of recapturing the music of this franchise.
None of the original cast from the last three movies didn't reprise their roles in this movie but instead were replaced by Joshua Basset, Zachary Levi, Thomas Lennon(who wrote the first two films) and many others. The new cast members were all fine, I can tell the casting director didn't want most of the cast to voice match Ben Stiller or the late Robin Williams, and the acting was fine in my opinion.
This movie was made more for younger kids and not for the whole family like the original films, which is something that the writers, the producers and even Disney forgot about. That is what made the first three movies special. The fact that everyone could enjoy it no matter how old they were. Unfortunately, it's not like that in this film, most of the jokes were kid friendly that only children would laugh at, and the dialogue felt like a mix of Disney Junior and Nickelodeon, which led me to believe that maybe this movie doesn't care about the original fans.
I do understand that this movie is a canon/reboot and not a fourthquel based on the marketing but as a huge fan of this franchise I can't help but feel disappointed.
In summary, none of the cast from the first three movies were in this movie(and I bet none of them were asked); the writing wasn't the best, and the animation wasn't the best. I feel like the cast, the crew and even Disney only did this movie for a paycheck and not because they love and care about the original films like I do as a fan.
I don't recommend this movie for any fan of the franchise. It feels like it's made for younger audiences rather than for fans of the original films. As much as I do want Night at the Museum to have a future and I believe there's many more stories that can be told in the franchise, I just don't see this movie being the start of it.
I would only watch another animated Night at the Museum movie if they hire better writers, better character designer, and rehire the cast from the first three movies.
I'm not a fan of this movie, but I do like the idea that the movie was animated. This was a great way to continue the franchise since there won't be a live action sequel anytime soon. As much I like the 2d animation and some of the background designs, I'm not a fan of some of the characters designs. I can tell the character designer didn't want any of the characters we all know and love, from the original series, to not look anything like they did back in the old films.
One of my biggest complaints about this movie is the writing; the jokes were horrible, too many jokes kept coming from every corner to the point it felt like a Disney channel sitcom with no laugh track(because most of the jokes were bad); Kahmunrah's return could've been better if it had been written better. Instead it only felt like Battle Of The Smithsonian all over again with nothing new.
The writers also made the characters we know from the last three movies annoying. Nicky is a wimp and not confident like in the last movie; in addition the other characters were acting out of character. One of the things the exhibit characters did that was beyond out of character, was when they scared away night guard Ronnie in the beginning of the movie. Sure I bet the writers were trying to get Nicky to become night guard somehow, but it doesn't just make the exhibits look bad, it makes them immature. The exhibits in the original franchise would've gave Ronnie a chance, not threaten him.
This movie had a bunch of continuity eras. For example the events of Secret Of The Tomb(last film) weren't mentioned here as if that movie never happened; Ahkmenrah is not even in this movie, only mentioned once by Theodore Roosevelt but not by name but rather by the fact that he is the younger brother of Kahmunrah. I could tell Theodore Roosevelt or the other characters didn't know him in this movie as if he never existed, not to mention the Tablet of Ahkmenrah is only called "the tablet".
There were some things I did like about this movie. One thing in particular was the music (very similar to the first three movies). Alan Silvestri didn't return to do the music for this film but Joe Paesano did a wonderful job of recapturing the music of this franchise.
None of the original cast from the last three movies didn't reprise their roles in this movie but instead were replaced by Joshua Basset, Zachary Levi, Thomas Lennon(who wrote the first two films) and many others. The new cast members were all fine, I can tell the casting director didn't want most of the cast to voice match Ben Stiller or the late Robin Williams, and the acting was fine in my opinion.
This movie was made more for younger kids and not for the whole family like the original films, which is something that the writers, the producers and even Disney forgot about. That is what made the first three movies special. The fact that everyone could enjoy it no matter how old they were. Unfortunately, it's not like that in this film, most of the jokes were kid friendly that only children would laugh at, and the dialogue felt like a mix of Disney Junior and Nickelodeon, which led me to believe that maybe this movie doesn't care about the original fans.
I do understand that this movie is a canon/reboot and not a fourthquel based on the marketing but as a huge fan of this franchise I can't help but feel disappointed.
In summary, none of the cast from the first three movies were in this movie(and I bet none of them were asked); the writing wasn't the best, and the animation wasn't the best. I feel like the cast, the crew and even Disney only did this movie for a paycheck and not because they love and care about the original films like I do as a fan.
I don't recommend this movie for any fan of the franchise. It feels like it's made for younger audiences rather than for fans of the original films. As much as I do want Night at the Museum to have a future and I believe there's many more stories that can be told in the franchise, I just don't see this movie being the start of it.
I would only watch another animated Night at the Museum movie if they hire better writers, better character designer, and rehire the cast from the first three movies.