It's rather refreshing to see Adam Sandler in a movie that is not devoted to being crude and it seems he can handle that well enough. Here, he plays a more down-to-earth character, a hotel handyman named Skeeter who helps babysit his niece and nephew while his sister goes out of state to look for work (she is the principal of an elementary school tragically being shut down--this figures into the plot). He entertains the kids were various bedtime stories inspired by his own problems and the young ones gleefully volunteer details and plot lines as well. Nice enough bonding project, until Skeeter notices incidences oddly reminiscent of details in the stories. They are done realistically enough--for example, a gum-ball rain shower appears in the form of a candy-carrying truck accident on an overpass above Skeeter. Still, the bedtime stories are more or less coming true.
It's a fun and charming idea and story, exuding a definite sweetness with a smattering of "gross" stuff to keep the small viewers giggling (I thought it was all in good, juvenile taste, never went overboard). The concept was more original than the story itself, but was still well-balanced. I think my only real complaint was that the plot was not the most organized thing in the world. It did not wander, per say, but while the stories-to-life thing is a nice plot device, it should not be solely relied upon. I found myself several times asking myself what just happened and why. Events and relationships popped out of nowhere without rhyme or reason.
Perhaps a little tightening of the plot and more attention upon characters would not have hurt this movie.
Still, "Bedtime Stories" is sweet, imaginative, and does not ask much more than to be liked. And likable it certainly is.
It's a fun and charming idea and story, exuding a definite sweetness with a smattering of "gross" stuff to keep the small viewers giggling (I thought it was all in good, juvenile taste, never went overboard). The concept was more original than the story itself, but was still well-balanced. I think my only real complaint was that the plot was not the most organized thing in the world. It did not wander, per say, but while the stories-to-life thing is a nice plot device, it should not be solely relied upon. I found myself several times asking myself what just happened and why. Events and relationships popped out of nowhere without rhyme or reason.
Perhaps a little tightening of the plot and more attention upon characters would not have hurt this movie.
Still, "Bedtime Stories" is sweet, imaginative, and does not ask much more than to be liked. And likable it certainly is.