The Blu-Ray Dissection: Bedtime Stories

Posted by Chad Webb on 04.10.2009

I’m not sure I would want Russell Brand or Adam Sandler in my bedroom telling stories as I fall asleep…

Adams Sandler: Skeeter Bronson
Jonathan Morgan Heit: Patrick
Laura Ann Kesling: Bobbi
Keri Russell: Jill
Guy Pearce: Kendall
Russell Brand: Mickey
Richard Griffiths: Barry Nottingham
Teresa Palmer: Violet Nottingham
Lucy Lawless: Aspen
Courtney Cox: Wendy
Directed By: Adam Shankman
Written By: Matt Lopez and Tim Herlihy
Theatrical Release Date: December 25, 2008
DVD Release Date: April 5, 2009
Running Time: 99 minutes







Rated PG for some mild rude humor and mild language.

The Film

Before I delve into the hills and valleys of Betime Stories, I have a bone to pick with screenwriters Matt Lopez and Tim Herlihy, or whoever came up with the name Skeeter Bronson. Picking a name for a character might be the easiest aspect of storytelling, but when a viewer sits down for a movie and the name is Skeeter Bronson, reminiscent of Scream/Jericho star Skeet Ulrich and the last name of Death Wish icon Charles Bronson, it is hard to connect to them on any level. Only in an Adam Sandler movie would anyone be named Skeeter, as if we need reminding through the name that the character is an artificial schlub that doesn’t take much seriously. But I digress.

Starting off with that paragraph is not customary for any critic, but I couldn’t help myself. Bedtime Stories at its heart is a film for children. That is what it boils down to, even for loyal Sandler fans. His trademark shtick is present, but it has been trimmed of profanities and appropriately geared toward a smaller audience. Though it makes many mistakes along the way, Bedtime Stories expresses numerous traits that capture a child’s attention: bright colors, junk food, and tales of fantasy. Though hardcore film buffs will refuse to see it, the movie really does mean well. The problem lies in Disney’s insistence that a gratuitous CGI guinea pig keep popping up.

To further embed the fairytale-esque qualities, Bedtime Stories opens with narration from Marty Bronson (Jonathan Pryce), who raised his son Skeeter (Adam Sandler) and daughter Wendy (Courtney Cox) on his own while managing a hotel. Sadly, due to debt, he is forced to sell the hotel to Barry Nottingham (Richard Griffiths), who promises to put Skeeter in charge when he is older and capable. Nottingham immediately rips down the modest property to erect a full scale hotel establishment. Years later, Skeeter is the hotel handyman, but still wishes he was the manager. One day, Nottingham announces the construction of a new hotel, one that will have a specific theme. He appoints future son-in-law Kendall (Guy Pearce) as manager, leaving Skeeter disappointed. Meanwhile, his sister Wendy is leaving town to look for a new job, and requests her brother to watch her children Patrick (Jonathan Morgan Heit) and Bobbi (Laura Ann Kesling) with her friend Jill (Keri Russell) while she is away. After a rough start, Skeeter reaches the kids through engaging bedtime stories, which end up coming true in real life. Skeeter believes he has found a way to fulfill all of his dreams, but it is not that simple.

It is time that we critics fess up to something. When in comes to live-action family films, rarely do we match up with what children like. In terms of animated efforts, everyone usually agrees on what is good and what is not, but live-action is a different, unpredictable territory. Last year for instance, I loved a movie called City of Ember, and praised it as perfect for families, but it disappeared quickly. Likewise, the majority of critics adored Bridge to Terabithia (2007), but it came and went, and no one hears about it now. Meanwhile, The Game Plan, a film disparaged by critics, was unanimously cherished by kids and families. The fact is, critics have grown up, developed their tastes, and either cannot or refuse to imagine what a child would think. Kids do not care what we write. They simply want to watch what makes them happy, and Bedtime Stories is an example of that.

What evidence do I have to back up the claim that children like Bedtime Stories? Well, my fiancée is a 3rd grade teacher, and since its theatrical release, I have received daily reports on kids who talk about the movie and recommend it to her regularly. Obviously that is only one group, but my nieces, nephews, and cousins have also seen it, and it brings a smile to their face. As I was a kid once, I always try to incorporate a younger perspective into my rating, but let's face it, sometimes we do not enjoy what we would have at age 10. I can see the appeal in Bedtime Stories, and how certain aspects do not translate as well to adults. When it is all set and done, the themes included here are earnest enough for all ages to locate some fun. However, it is impossible to ignore the times when Disney goes overboard.

Adam Sandler has had a rollercoaster ride of a decade. In terms of box office results, the success is still prevalent, but as far as quality and passion are concerned, he has lost his touch considerably. Since 2000, he has delivered comedies that are either mediocre at best, or downright horrid, while his dramatic turns in Punch Drunk Love, Spanglish, and Reign Over Me have stirred favorable reactions from critics. As Skeeter Bronson, Sandler has weeded out the unlikable traits he is recognized for in comedies, and switched them for a heavier dose of sweetness, while at the same time not alienating his fanbase. His timing and innate humor is still intact, but this role shines a new light on it instead of merely recycling old gags, which is refreshing. Sandler works well with kids. His amusement plays off them wonderfully, as audiences witnessed in Big Daddy, but that wasn't a kids film in the strictest sense of the word.

The supporting cast of Bedtime Stories is packed with faces one might not expect in this genre. For starters, Memento's Guy Pearce is Kendall, Skeeter's rival for the top position at the new hotel. As Pearce himself says, he is not usually the first person comedy parts are offered to, but his exaggerated pompousness is effective and hilarious. Two Brothers was Pearce's most family friendly film until now, but he should not disregard those scripts from now on. He fits as a villain. One name that is certainly familiar with this genre is Richard Griffiths, Skeeter's boss Mr. Nottingham, the man deciding who should manage his new hotel. Griffiths is a highly underrated actor (on stage and screen), that has certainly contributed much more than Uncle Vernon from the Harry Potter franchise. He is terrific as a boss that is petrified of germs. Perhaps the most random talent is Russell Brand as Mickey, Skeeter's best friend, and he too can hone his routine to suit younger viewers.

On the female side of the spectrum, Courtney Cox joins Sandler a second time from their Longest Yard pairing, for a role equally as short as Skeeter's sister Wendy. Keri Russell provides a delightful presence as Jill, the obvious romantic interest for Skeeter. Some of the funniest scenes are waiting for what costume Russell will be in during one of the bedtime stories. The mermaid was my favorite, but moving on...Teresa Palmer is adequate but borderline annoying as Mr. Nottingham's daughter Violet, and Lucy Lawless is underused, yet fabulous as Aspen, the hotel concierge. Jonathan Morgan Heit and Laura Ann Kesling are the children, Patrick and Bobbi, and both bring a crucial characteristic to the table: innocence. Without that, this movie could not have convinced anyone, including other children, that it was worthwhile.

Bugsy the guinea pig represents the biggest, most glaring irritation of Bedtime Stories. This is a perfect example of Disney's tendency to go over the edge with CGI lately. Bugsy was played by three different guinea pigs, yet Disney still gives him outrageously huge eyes, and has him run on a treadmill, eat burgers, and sport stupid hairstyles. One or two sequences with Bugsy would have been tolerable, but whenever the story needs a transition, or is suffering a dead spot, they return to Bugsy for some sort of gag that induces automatic eye-rolling. And with any Sandler comedy, one must deal with Rob Schneider, dressing up in a disguise, and standing out like an incredibly sore thumb.

When the studios need a director for an guaranteed money making, simple scripted, easily digestible film, Adam Shankman is one filmmaker near the top of the list. His career began with romantic comedies, particularly The Wedding Planner, and in 2003 he moved to the family genre with Bringing Down the House, and never turned back, even after The Pacifier. In examining the special features of this set, I noticed that Shankman is incredibly fun for a cast to work with. The atmosphere on the shoot is jovial, carefree, and uncomplicated. It is also a bit chaotic from the footage I saw, and I can't help but wonder how his efforts would improve if he demanded even a bit of discipline and control. Nonetheless, he knows how to handle this type of movie commendably, just not how to mold it into a finer shape.

Slight twists occur in how the bedtime stories are brought to life for Skeeter. The connections are inventive and even witty, which is not a word commonly associated with the star of Billy Madison. The initial response to some these story tangents would be that they are excessively silly, but since they are stories, there are no limits on how ridiculous they can be. Granted, watching "Skeetacus" do a 360 flip in the Roman coliseum was somewhat dumb, but the western tale, and the space adventure, were executed adeptly. It does not require a psychic to foresee what Skeeter's fate will be, but Bedtime Stories is about enjoying the journey, even though we know what the destination will be. The best way to describe entertainment like this is stress free and relaxing. Full concentration is not necessary, and that's ok.

The Video

If you were searching for a happy medium of Blu-Ray features, a title that is not a straight drama and not a full-scale action extravaganza. Bedtime Stories is that film, especially on video, as this transfer is saturated with gorgeous bright colors that will dazzle everyone. The color balance is excellent, the black levels are rich and deep, and the contrast was quite satisfactory. The space story includes outstanding visuals, but even the “real life” moments have intricate detail that emerges marvelously on the 1080p High Definition. The hotel is particularly stunning in its set design, and the cinematography from Michael Barrett is tremendous. This is presented in anamorphic widescreen with an aspect ratio of 2.35:1, and contains virtually no defects such as grain, softness, or blurs. This is exquisite and smooth from start to finish.

The Audio

Likewise, the sound department is not excessive on explosions, nor is it dull by any stretch of the imagination. Skeeter’s stories give the speakers an opportunity to flex their muscles with crisp, clean, and robust audio. The Roman and western stories are the best examples with horses and chariot racing, not to mention the crowds’ cheers, which permeate the room as if surrounding the viewer. The dialogue is clear, lucid, and totally understandable throughout with no sound effect overwhelming the conversations. The English 5.1 DTS-HD track is spectacular, but if that wasn’t enough, French and Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1 tracks are included for those folks. Subtitles in English, Spanish, and French are available as well.

The Packaging

Bedtime Stories, the Blu-Ray edition, is distributed in a slimline blue case with a cardboard slipsleeve cover on top of that. Inside are three disc holders, all cozily squeezed in a standard size Blu-Ray case, along with multiple Disney booklets of advertisements and digital upload instructions. The menu loading screen is gumballs, and the menu itself is none other than clips of the movie and a stagnant image of Bugsy. The sound of navigating is a horse gallop, and it is easy to navigate.

The Extras

DISC 1

Until Gravity Do Us Part (4:00) – This is a short featurette on the ending space story scene, which was filmed with blue screens. A description of how it is set up, and what the scene entails are given via interviews. Guy Pearce stands around looking weird in his costume also.

To All the Little People (5:24) – This is an extra geared only towards the child actors, Jonathan Morgan Heit and Laura Ann Kesling. They provide interviews on their experience, and fellow cast members give high praise for their contribution. The behind the scenes footage was amusing.

It’s Bugsy (3:42) – Yes, the guinea pig gets his own bonus feature, which shows us the real pets that portray him. Oddly enough, left out is how they altered him with CGI. Interviews with the animal coordinator are made to convince us it was all legit.

Laughter is Contagious Outtakes (6:48) – Normally all gag reels are funny and easy to watch, and this pretty much is, but it also contains interviews. I think this is the first gag reel that took the time to insert interviews from cast. All I need to see are the screw ups.

Cutting Room Floor: Deleted Scenes (10:26) – This includes approximately 13 deleted and extended scenes, and none of the title would make sense to you. I’ll just say that all of them were better left cut from the final feature. Pearce’s extended Broadway number was funny, but over the top.

Sneak Peeks - Among the trailers are: Hannah Montana: The Movie, Morning Light, Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure, Disney XD, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs – Platinum Edition DVD, G-Force, Monsters Inc Blu-Ray, a Disney movie rewards advertisement, and a Blu-Ray commercial. The only exclusive Blu-Ray feature is BD-Live, which is only accessible with certain players.

DISC 2

The Digital Copy of the film with installation instructions inside!

DISC 3

The standard DVD edition of the film. Literally wherever you go, you can watch Bedtime Stories. Yay.

The Film: 6.5/10.0
The Video: 10.0/10.0
The Audio: 9.0/10.0
The Packaging: 8.0/10.0
The Extras: 5.0/10.0

The 411: This Blu-Ray release is a perfect example of how top-notch technical specifications can bump up the rating of the package as a unit into the positive categories. Remember, not just the film rating counts. Bedtime Stories has problems, but it is a lot of fun overall, despite the clichéd ending and the stupid guinea pig. Because the audio and video were so mind-blowingly good, this set deserves some praise. Adam Sandler should visit the children’s genre more, along with the serious dramas, and leave the juvenile humor he is known for alone. These are areas he works better in at his age. Bedtime Stories is a sweet and entertaining experience that does not resort to fart jokes and adult comedy to reach more audiences. It wants to make kids smile. End of story. I respect that. The extras on the DVD are the biggest flaw. There is no commentary track, and the featurettes are too short to supply any enjoyment. If family films are not your cup of tea, skip this, but if you like Sandler, and can find the fun in movies like this, I would urge anyone to give it a shot.

Final Score:  7.0   [ Good ]