Night at the Museum

A Trilogy for Ideas Guys

There are two types of people in this world: Ideas Guys and Rules Guys. For our purposes, the term “Guys” is all encompassing when it comes to gender. Think of that song from Good Burger: “I’m a Dude! He’s a Dude! She’s a Dude! Cuz we’re all Dudes! Hey!” So how are Ideas Guys and Rules Guys different? Ideas Guys are full of, well, ideas. They think about what could be. They are driven by their imagination. The idea could be great or it could be unrealistic, either way the Ideas Guy is passionate about their idea. I’m partial to Ideas Guys because I’m one of them so forgive me if the next few sentences are a little harsh. Rules Guys focus on what cannot be done. They operate within the structures and limits of society. They don’t imagine what could be, but rather why something may not work out. They’re not as fun as Ideas Guys, but despite their frustrating nature, I would argue that they are as important to us Ideas Guys. They keep us in check…..though their penchant for limitations can be frustrating. I used to frequently tell my wife, a Rules Guy, “Tell me what I can do. Not what I can’t do.” Ideas Guys are driven by their belief of what is possible.

Larry, The Ideas Guy

Our family has recently watched the Night of the Museum films. In fact, my son is currently watching the previously unknown animated fourth movie in the series. We were watching the first film the other night and it hit me how much this series is for Ideas Guys! Ben Stiller’s character, Larry is the definition of an Ideas Guy. He’s an inventor. Unfortunately, he’s a struggling inventor. Nobody likes his ideas, his ex-wife lectures him, and his son is struggling to believe that his dad can be anything beyond a disappointment. Larry gets a job as night security at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.

The Museum is where exhibits and ideas come to life! The magic of an Ancient Egyptian tablet brings everything in the museum to life. What a cool idea for a movie! Imagine being in the Writers Room with the other Ideas Guys that were brainstorming. Let’s put an inventor in a position to use his creativity to keep the museum under control. Can a famous President be an inspiration and a guide to the protagonist? Let’s have a cowboy and a Roman soldier go from being enemies to best friends. What if the animals came to life? And let’s weave in a father-son story to bring it all together!

The Ideas Guy Loses, But Eventually Finds, His Way

Our friend, Larry, finds himself in a much different position at the start of the sequel. He’s made it big time…but he’s kind of a sellout. He’s no longer working security and he’s marketing his inventions with George Foreman. Larry’s has become too consumed by his ideas that he forgot about the meaning of his journey in the first film. Sometimes, us Ideas Guys lose our way like that. Larry’s museum friends being moved to the Smithsonian in Washington D.C. brings him back into the fold and right in the battle of a battle for the tablet.

Yes, Larry figures it out and we have fun watching his journey. We really like this one because it takes place in a city we love and would do just about anything to be able to move to. It also has this scene that we love to quote….

London Calling

The third film is the end of the journey….until the made-for-streaming animated movie became a thing. The tablet is dying and so the friends of the museum are losing the magic that gave them life. Larry must travel to a museum in London to solve this problem. He must also learn to let his son grow into becoming his own Ideas Guy. Larry’s son has grown up to become a senior in high school. He’s at that stage where he has ideas while he figures his life out. Larry has his own ideas for what his son should do. The movie is ultimately about Larry learning to let his son pursue his own ideas.

Our Love For Robin Williams, The Ultimate Ideas Guy

My wife and I carried a heavy heart as we watching the Night at the Museum movies with our son. We are just after the ten year anniversary of the passing of Robin Williams, the ultimate Ideas Guy. He plays Theodore Roosevelt in the films. He’s there to be a helping hand and a voice of encouragement for Larry, but his words ring true for us. Not only does Williams inspire us in a few movies about a museum coming to life, but think for a second about his overall impact. In Dead Poet’s Society, he taught us to seize the day. In Good Will Hunting, he helped us heal from the pain of our past. He flew as Robin Hood and he made us laugh as Mrs. Doubtfire. None of these roles are alike, but they were brought alive by a man full of ideas. Because of this man, the world was a better place.