Her Gone Life

As we get ready for the 3rd Night At the Museum (NATM) movie, I was invited to a group interview with the cast (Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, Rebel Wilson, and Dan Stevens) and filmmaker (Shawn Levy) of the film.

Note: I was invited as media to this event courtesy of 20th Century Fox. Any personal views expressed are always 100% my own.


Before meeting the cast and director for the interview, I was able to screen the film. I really enjoyed it. Like the first 2 NATM films there was an epic adventure after sundown, but there was lots more layers to this adventure.

This time it wasn't just about what happens when the sun goes down, but about saving the magic of it all. How our favorite night guard and his museum team saves the magic is quite a tale filled with new characters, a new museum adventure and lots of action.


I'm always amazed that in these NATM movies so much action happens in the museum, a place not known for a lot of action. So during the interview I HAD to ask the cast and director about these action scenes. And the cast had a lot to share!

So, I've pretty much seen all of the films. And it seems to me that with each film, there's way more adventure, way more action. So, I want to ask each of you how have you prepared for some of the action scenes, and which ones were your favorite to actually shoot?

Preparing for Actions Scenes & Favorites

Dan Stevens: I've been doing a lot of action recently, which is kind of new to me. But I'm really enjoying it. And it was made extra hard with the armor. The nine-headed snake dragon sequence, the battle that I had to do was pretty elaborate.

And actually, the guy who trained me, Jeff, he was a real sword enthusiast. And in between training and learning all these moves and getting used to doing the moves with all the armor, we would watch some kind of old classic Hollywood sword fights, more kind of fencing actually.

Dan Stevens: But to try and get some of that great kind of Hollywood flair that, like, Errol Flynn, Gene Kelly, and even in Princess Bride, you know the Cary Elwes sort of stuff into a kind of broadsword sequence, which I thought was really cool.

And then you know Ben kicks in with the flashlight and it was like copy and repeat on this stuff.


Ben Stiller: We had a flashlight swordfight in the second one with Hank Azaria. And I remember we had to work on it for a while. But I think basically for me it's just like coming in to the movie like prepared, knowing that there's going to be a lot of physical stuff. So, you just try to feel like you're physically ready for that.

There was like another element to it. So, I tried to hang out with the cavemen more, the three cavemen. We bonded. And I tried to steal some of their tricks. But it's a very interesting kind of movie because every day there's something else that you're dealing with. One day you're doing a swordfight. The next day you're doing a comedic scene or acting with something that's not there.


Owen Wilson: Well, I like where Steve [Coogan] and I are getting blown through the air vent. And we're on the wire. And I don't think there was much dialogue really scripted. I think Shawn was saying like maybe you say this is like the last roundup, partner. I think this is it or something.

And then Steve said hold my hand. And I said why? And then it drops us. And then we ad-libbed that part.


Shawn Levy: But literally there's something that went online yesterday where it shows Owen and Steve getting suited up in those cables making up the dialogue like 30 seconds before we shot it. And now it's in the movie.

And one of the fun parts of this--all these movies--I really do count on these actors to be collaborators. So, there's a lot their stuff that ends up in the movie.

Besides the great action scenes, NATM also has a very touching storyline for parents and friends about letting go. I don't want to give to much away, but while searching for the answer to keep the magic alive, Larry has to deal with letting go in more ways then one.

He's trying to save the museum and his friends while dealing with a son who wants to grow up and try things on his own. I can SO relate to that story line and know many families will also.

Along the same topic of letting go, this was Robin Williams last film and we all watched his scenes with a bitter sweet feeling. During the interview Shawn Levy spoke a bit about this

Robin Williams Last Film

Shawn Levy: ....obviously this was Robin's last movie. So, it was really important to all of us and certainly to me in the editing room every day to have it be, as you say, a fitting and loving kind of piece of his legacy.

Overall the movie is a fitting legacy for both Robin Williams and the Night At the Museum series. I'm sad to say goodbye but really enjoyed being entertained by both. Take your families to see NATM. You'll be glad you did for so many reasons.

SYNOPSIS

Get ready for the wildest and most adventure-filled Night At the Museum ever as Larry (Ben Stiller) spans the globe, uniting favorite and new characters while embarking on an epic quest to save the magic before it is gone forever.

Starring Ben Stiller, Robin Williams, Owen Wilson, Dick Van Dyke, Dan Stevens, Ricky Gervais, Ben Kingsley, Rebel Wilson, Mickey Rooney, and Rami Malek

To learn more, visit www.nightatthemuseummovie.com