BEDTIME STORIES: Hoo-humm

BEDTIME STORIES (fantasy comedy)
Cast: Adam Sandler, Keri Russell, Guy Pearce, Russell Brand, Richard Griffiths, Teresa Palmer, Lucy Lawless, Courteney Cox and Jonathan Pryce
Directors: Adam Shankman
Time: 99 mins
Rating: * * (out of 4)

PREAMBLE: This is one of a few family comedies that Adam Sandler has made, the other notable one being 'Click'. However, 'Bedtime Stories' is not going to endear him to children or their parents. The elaborate sets and cool special effects aside, this one is so full of infantile gags and lame writing that even children will find it crappy.

WHAT'S IT ABOUT? Sandler is Skeeter Bronson, a handyman who has dreams of running the hotel his father used to own. When he is called upon to babysit his sister’s (Courteny Cox) kids for a week, the bedtime stories he tells them take a twist when the lines injected by the kids start come true the next day. Skeeter, of course, tries to capitalise on this but...

HITS AND MISSES: 'Bedtime Stories' serves up four fantasy tales - a medieval gladiator-type adventure, a Western, an action/romance, and a space caper - all of which have silly, cliched endings. There are some promising moments in the plot but it's downright dispiriting to see director Shankman squander them away with such a banal interpretation.

'Bedtime Stories' could have been magical, if only Sandler had not made his Skeeter such an annoying ass. (Imagine turning a spray-can on himself and crying out in pain just to get a giggle?) Another annoyance is the CGI guinea pig named Bugsy who serves no real purpose except to provide the ill-conceived 'cute factor' for kids.

THE LOWDOWN: Sandler's dopey persona (as the no-talent guy who makes it just because he is funny and lucky) seems to be wearing thin - and now even the kids will know it!