Bedtime Stories

Adam Sandler's bad streak continues with his worst movie yet. He plays a hotel handyman aspiring to run his own place who makes up bedtime stories to tell his niece and nephew. A good premise—the stories become reality the following day—holds potential for true movie magic, yet the execution is unfocussed, sloppy and lame. Sandler seems lost, as do Keri Russell and Guy Pearce. Pearce is especially awful in the villain role, a sad turn for a normally reliable actor. The fantasy sequences, including adventures in ancient Greece and in space, are bland and moronic. There's also a token "funny pet," a guinea pig with bug eyes. There are probably about 100 reaction shots featuring the stupid thing. This is easily one of 2008's worst.