Bedtime Stories

It’s worth noting that although the film does suffer from an increasingly uneven atmosphere, Bedtime Stories ultimately comes off as the most entertaining Adam Sandler comedy to hit theaters since 2004’s 50 First Dates – which isn’t saying much, admittedly, given the presence of such entirely underwhelming laughers as 2006’s Click and 2007’s I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry within the actor’s recent filmography. The movie casts Sandler as Skeeter Bronson, a lovable hotel handyman who is stunned to discover elements from his niece and nephew’s bedtime stories popping up in his day-to-day life and it’s subsequently not long before the ambitious blue-collar worker begins using his newfound powers to his advantage. Director Adam Shankman, working from a script by Matt Lopez and Tim Herlihy, effectively infuses Bedtime Stories with an irresistibly lighthearted atmosphere that serves the high-concept premise surprisingly well, with the inclusion of several genuinely hilarious interludes (eg Rob Schneider turns in a cameo appearance that’s actually funny) perpetuating the affable vibe and ensuring that the movie ultimately holds appeal for both kids and older viewers. There inevitably reaches a point, however, at which one’s interest begins to wane, as the breezy opening hour slowly but surely gives way to an almost egregiously melodramatic third act that’s been punctuated with bursts of needlessly over-the-top action sequences. Sandler’s personable performance, as well as the uniformly strong work from the supporting cast (which includes Guy Pearce, Russell Brand, and Keri Russell), goes a long way towards ensuring that Bedtime Stories remains tolerable even through its overtly hackneyed stretches, with the end result a pleasantly watchable Disney comedy that’s as entertaining as it is familiar.

**1/2 out of ****