Ben Stiller reprises his role as Larry Daley, a museum night watchman who’s made it big in the novelty invention business. When he makes a quick visit to the Natural History Museum, he finds that the lifelike exhibits are being packed away and sent to the Smithsonian, along with the ancient Egyptian tablet that brings the exhibits to life each night. Larry scurries to Washington D.C., where chaos ensues.

The ClearPlay Factor

Battle of the Smithsonian was rated PG for mild action and brief language. ClearPlayed, the movie thankfully loses a handful of profanity. There is a scary squid, and some brief scenes of tense peril, but the movie is largely tame enough for all but the most fainthearted viewers.

Would watching Battle of the Smithsonian be a Night well spent?…

I’d be fibbing if I said I liked this movie. I found it to be a pandering excuse to cram as many special effects and gratuitous jokes as it could into an hour and 45 minutes. But here’s the thing: Most kids and a great many adults are going to love Battle of the Smithsonian because, though it lacks a plausible story – or any real story, for that matter – it’s an excuse to cram as many special effects and gratuitous jokes … well, you get the picture. Pure eye candy. And in the case of casting Amy Adams, that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

Marty Nabhan—ClearPlay Decent Docent Department

Rated PG for mild action and brief language.; 105 min; Directed By Shawn Levy