Bedtime Storiesis a 2008 Americanfantasycomedy filmdirected byAdam Shankmanfrom a screenplay by Matt Lopez andTim Herlihybased on a story by Lopez. It starsAdam Sandlerin his first appearance in a family film, alongsideKeri Russell,Guy Pearce,Aisha Tyler,Russell Brand,Richard Griffiths,Teresa Palmer,Lucy Lawless,andCourteney Cox.In the film, a hotel handyman's stories to his niece and nephew come true, and his stories become more outlandish. Sandler's production companyHappy MadisonandAndrew Gunn's company Gunn Films co-produced the film withWalt Disney Pictures.
| Bedtime Stories | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Adam Shankman |
| Screenplay by |
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| Story by | Matt Lopez |
| Produced by | |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Michael Barrett |
| Edited by |
|
| Music by | Rupert Gregson-Williams |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by | Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures |
Release date |
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Running time | 99 minutes[1] |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $80 million[2] |
| Box office | $212.9 million[3] |
The film premiered on December 25, 2008, byDisney.Despite the film being a box office success, earning $212.9 million against an $80 million budget, it received generally negative reviews from critics.
Plot
editIn 1974, Skeeter and Wendy Bronson are raised by their father Marty at the family business, the Sunny Vista Motel. However, despite being a good hotelier and host, Marty faces serious financial problems with the family motel business and almost goes bankrupt. Marty sells the motel to his good friend Barry Nottingham, the severelygermaphobicCEO and founder of hotel chain Nottingham Hotels, who rebuilds it into a luxury hotel named the Sunny Vista Nottingham, on the condition that Skeeter will run it when he's old enough. At present, Skeeter is stuck as the hotel's hardworking repairman. Nottingham announces plans to close the old hotel in order to build a bigger one, named the Sunny Vista Mega Nottingham, and appoints the snotty Kendall Duncan as its future manager, simply because he is dating Nottingham's daughter, Violet, though he is secretly having an affair with the hotel manager Aspen.
Wendy asks Skeeter to watch her children, Patrick and Bobbi, because the school at which she is the principal is closing down and she is looking for a job in Arizona. The first night, Skeeter cynically tells them a bedtime story in which he casts himself as an underdogpeasantin amedievalfantasyworld, who is unfairly passed over for promotion. Dissatisfied with the story’s unhappy ending, the children add that he at least gets a chance at the promotion and that it starts raining gumballs.
The next day, the story miraculously comes true: Nottingham, recalling the original promise he made to Marty, gives Skeeter a shot at the manager position; and on his way home, gumballs rain on Skeeter from a truck crash on an overpass. The next night, at the hotel, Skeeter tells awild west-style story in which he, as a cowboy, is freely given an expensive horse namedFerrari.Going out later that night, he saves Violet from obnoxious paparazzi; he then sees Violet’s Ferrari car and mistakenly thinks it is for him before Violet drives away. Skeeter realizes that only the children's additions to the stories come true. The night after that, Skeeter, with the children's help, tells a story about a chariot-riding stuntman inAncient Greecewho wins a date with the “fairest maiden in the land”. The next day, Skeeter ends up spending the day with and falling for his sister's friend and colleague Jill.
On Skeeter’s last night with the children, he tells them aspace opera-style story in which he triumphs over Kendall in a duel. The children, recalling how Skeeter told them on their first night that there are no happy endings in real life, add that someone kills him with a fireball. Skeeter learns from Kendall that the new Nottingham Hotel will be at the location of the closing school. Skeeter and Kendall both make presentations on how best to market the hotel; with his heartfelt speech on family, Skeeter ultimately wins the managerial position. However, Skeeter, paranoid against fire due to the story, blasts a fire extinguisher at Nottingham's cake and is “fired”.
Skeeter, much to the surprise of Jill and Nottingham manages to get the hotel’s location moved to the beachfront in Santa Monica; after which Skeeter and Jill race to the school before it can be demolished. While at the site, protesting the school’s closure, Bobbi and Patrick sneak into the building to give their sign a better view. Skeeter and Jill arrive just in time to stop Kendall from setting off the highly sensitive explosives, saving the kids and the school. Sometime later, Skeeter marries Jill and opens a motel named after his father; with Kendall and Aspen demoted to the motel's waiting staff. Violet marries Skeeter's best friend, Mickey, giving him control of the Nottingham Empire. Nottingham overcomes his extreme germaphobia, quitting the hotel industry to become a school nurse, and newlywed Skeeter and Jill have a baby boy.
Cast
edit- Adam Sandleras Skeeter Bronson
- Thomas Hoffman as Young Skeeter
- Keri Russellas Jill Hastings
- Guy Pearceas Kendall Duncan
- Russell Brandas Mickey
- Richard Griffithsas Barry Nottingham
- Tim Herlihyas Young Barry
- Jonathan Pryceas Martin "Marty" Bronson
- Courteney Coxas Wendy Bronson
- Abigail Droeger as Young Wendy
- Lucy Lawlessas Aspen
- Teresa Palmeras Violet Nottingham
- Aisha Tyleras Donna Hynde
- Laura Ann Kesling as Bobbi
- Jonathan Morgan Heitas Patrick
- Kathryn Joostenas Mrs. Dixon
- Melany Mitchell as Young Mrs. Dixon
- Andrew Collinsas Mr. Dixon
- Annalise Bassoas Tricia Sparks
- Nick Swardsonas Engineer
- Allen Covertas Ferrari Guy
- Carmen Electraas Hot Girl
- Blake ClarkandBill Romanowskias Bikers
- Mikey Postas Angry Dwarf
- Rob Schneideras Indian Chief/The Robber(Uncredited)
- Arne Starr as Nottingham Employee/Senator/Cowboy/Spaceman(Uncredited)
- Jonathan Loughranand Bob Harvey as Party Guests
Production
editDirectorAdam Shankmandescribes Adam Sandler's character as "a sort of 'Cinderfella' character "and adds that" 'He's likeHan Solo...' "[4]It was filmed at various locations in California, including inThousand Oakswhere Mr. Nottingham's palace is set.[5][6]
Music
edit| Bedtime Stories | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Film scoreby | |
| Released | December 23, 2008 |
| Genre | Soundtrack,film score |
| Length | 35:11 |
| Label | Walt Disney |
The score toBedtime Storieswas composed byRupert Gregson-Williams,who recorded his score with theHollywood Studio Symphonyat the Newman Scoring Stage at20th Century Fox.[7]The song "Don't Stop Believin'"is played during the film and during the end credits.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "The Sunny Vista Motel" | 4:15 |
| 2. | "The Tale of Sir Fixalot" | 3:04 |
| 3. | "Raining Gumballs" | 1:16 |
| 4. | "The Fat Mouse" | 1:54 |
| 5. | "The Wild West Adventure" | 2:15 |
| 6. | "Rooftop Camp Out" | 2:34 |
| 7. | "The Legend of Skeetacus" | 1:57 |
| 8. | "Almost a Kiss" | 1:53 |
| 9. | "Space Odyssey" | 3:08 |
| 10. | "Skeeter's Pitch" | 3:17 |
| 11. | "At the Nottingham Broadway Mega Resort" (Performed byGuy Pearce) | 1:18 |
| 12. | "You're Supposed To Be the Good Guy" | 3:49 |
| 13. | "Motorcycle Rescue" | 3:26 |
| 14. | "Happily Ever After" | 1:07 |
Theatrical release
editThe film was released in the United States on December 25, 2008, in Poland on January 23, 2009, and in Sweden on February 20, 2009.
Reception
editCritical response
edit
OnRotten TomatoesBedtime Storieshas an approval rating of 27% based on 111 reviews, with an average rating of 4.4/10. The site's consensus states, "Though it may earn some chuckles from pre-teens, this kid-friendly Adam Sandler comedy is uneven, poorly paced, and lacks the requisite whimsy to truly work."[8]OnMetacriticthe film has a weighted average score of 33 out of 100 based on 26 reviews, "generally unfavorable reviews".[9]Audiences surveyed byCinemaScoregave the film a grade B+ on scale of A to F.[10]
Box office
editSlashfilmpredicted thatBedtime Storieswould open #1 during the December 25–28, 2008 Christmas weekend due to its family appeal and the box office draw of Adam Sandler,[11]but it came at #3 grossing $38 million behindMarley & MeandThe Curious Case of Benjamin Button.However, during the standard 3-day weekend, it jumped ahead ofThe Curious Case of Benjamin Buttonranking #2 behindMarley & Mewith $27.5 million.[12]As of February 2009, the film had grossed $110,101,975 in the United States and Canada and $102,772,467 in other countries, totaling $212,874,442 worldwide.
Home media
editThe film was released onBlu-ray DiscandDVDon April 7, 2009. The DVD was released as a single disc or a two-disc edition including behind-the-scenes featurette. Commercials advertising the discs feature background music recycled from the filmBack to the Future Part III.As of November 1, 2009, the DVD has sold 2,835,662 copies generating $49,409,944 in sales revenue.[13]
Accolades
edit- Australian Film Institute 2009
| Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| AFI International Award | Best Actor | Guy Pearce | Nominated |
- BMI Film & TV Awards 2009
| Award | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|
| BMI Film Music Award | Rupert Gregson-Williams | Won |
- Kids' Choice Awards, USA 2009
| Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blimp Award | Favorite Movie Favorite Movie Actor |
Adam Sandler | Nominated |
- Motion Picture Sound Editors, USA 2009
| Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Reel Award | Best Sound Editing - Music in a Feature Film | J.J. George (supervising music editor) Kevin Crehan (music editor) Tom Kramer (music editor) |
Nominated |
- Young Artist Awards 2009
| Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Young Artist Award | Best Performance in a Feature Film - Supporting Young Actor | Johntae Lipscomb | Nominated |
References
edit- ^"Bedtime Stories".American Film Institute.Archivedfrom the original on October 28, 2021.RetrievedFebruary 7,2022.
- ^"Bedtime Stories (2008) - Financial Information".The Numbers.Archivedfrom the original on 2020-06-03.Retrieved2019-11-23.
- ^"Bedtime Stories (2008)".Archivedfrom the original on 2010-02-06.Retrieved2008-01-25.
- ^As quoted in "First Look: Behind the scenes of Hollywood's biggest projects,"Entertainment Weekly1025 (December 12, 2008): 9.
- ^"Bedtime Stories (2008) - IMDb".IMDb.Archivedfrom the original on 2021-01-25.Retrieved2018-07-26.
- ^"Best Movies Filmed in Thousand Oaks!".13 February 2017.Archivedfrom the original on 26 July 2018.Retrieved26 July2018.
- ^Rupert Gregson-Williams scoresBedtime StoriesArchived2010-11-30 at theWayback Machine.ScoringSessions.Retrieved 2008-12-17.
- ^"Bedtime Stories (2008)".Rotten Tomatoes.Archivedfrom the original on November 28, 2017.RetrievedNovember 23,2019.
- ^"Bedtime Stories".Metacritic.Archivedfrom the original on June 28, 2010.RetrievedNovember 23,2019.
- ^"Cinemascore".Archived fromthe originalon 2018-12-20.
- ^Box Office Tracking: Bedtime Stories Could Be The Biggest Christmas Day Opening of All-TimeArchived2009-01-22 at theWayback Machine./Film.Retrieved 2008-12-24.
- ^Weekend Box Office Results for December 26–28, 2008Archived2010-03-28 at theWayback Machine.Box Office Mojo.Retrieved 2009-01-02.
- ^Bedtime Stories - Box Office Data, Movie News, Cast InformationArchived2011-05-15 at theWayback Machine.The Numbers.Retrieved 2010-10-26.
External links
edit