Story

Skeeter Bronson (Adam Sandler) is a handyman at a hotel his father once owned. When Skeeter’s dad sold it to Mr. Nottingham (Richard Griffiths), it was with the proviso that Skeeter would one day become manager, but unfortunately, the job is given to Skeeter’s main nemesis Kendall (Guy Pearce). But Skeeter’s luck is about to change. While babysitting for his niece and nephew (Laura Ann Kesling and Jonathan Morgan Heit), Skeeter starts telling them bedtime stories that come to life the next day, using characters from his real life, including the kids and their mom’s best friend, Jill (Keri Russell). Set in Medieval Times, Ancient Greece, the Old West -- and even outer space -- the stories usually show Skeeter triumphing over the bad guys like The Booger Monster and Sir Buttkiss. And beware of raining gum balls; it’s that kind of movie.

Acting

Adam Sandler’s teaming with Disney is an inspired idea since his humor has always had a juvenile, Jerry Lewis-style flavor -- even in his more adult-oriented comedies. Leaving the gross-out comedy behind this time, Sandler proves he is a perfect fit for this kind of harmless, rather broad PG-formula family flick that should prove to be loads of fun for the youngest audience members. He’s a riot in some of the get-ups he is forced to wear,coming off best in the Ancient Greece sequence. Keri Russell is sweet and attractive as a foil for a lot of Sandler’s hijinks, while Courteney Cox, as Skeeter’s uptight sister, is given virtually nothing to do in the mom role. The kids are cute in a Disney Channel kind of way, but often seem a little precocious for their own good. Work colleagues are played rather one dimensionally by Pearce and Griffiths, but they all seem to be having fun inhabiting various stereotypical characters in the stories. Teresa Palmer is lovely as the owner’s daughter and the innocent object of Skeeter’s affections.

Direction

Director Adam Shankman (Hairspray) brings lots of color and verve to the film but knows what Sandler fans expect -- even in a kids comedy. Giving the film a necessary light touch, he ably moves it along through the various set pieces and special effects sequences that are required to bring all these imaginative shenanigans to life. Similar in many ways to Ben Stiller’s Night at the Museum, the production values of the bedtime stories at the film’s center don’t seem to be as elaborate or technically savvy as they might have been with a larger budget. Still, the cast seems to be having a great time, and it’s all in the name of some harmless fun that parents should feel safe taking their kids to this holiday season.