Although Bedtime Stories is a kids movie, it bears a striking resemblance to the Adam Sandler classic, Billy Madison. Both are about immature goofs that find themselves competing for control of a hotel with a pompous business jerk while pursuing a romantic interest in a lovely elementary school teacher. Perhaps that’s why the material appealed to Sandler, familiar territory and all.

As for the audience, Bedtime Stories will probably appeal to kids because it’s bright and colourful and moderately humorous with neat effects and a crazy bug-eyed hamster. The plot is highly improbable, but any film that can tone down the antics of Russell Brand to a G-rating deserves some kind of credit.

But back to Sandler who plays Skeeter, a hotel handyman that remembers with fondness the days his father (Jonathan Pryce) owned the hotel when it was an exciting place filled with imagination. The hotel’s owner Mr. Nottingham plans to upgrade the facilities, and hand over the reigns of the operation. Skeeter thinks he’s the successor, which would fulfill Nottingham’s long-standing promise to Skeeter’s dad, but instead the smarmy Kendall (Guy Pierce) gets chosen.

But Nottingham suddenly has a change of heart, remembering his promise he declares that between Kendall and Skeeter, whomever can come up with the best theme for the new hotel, will get to run it. Skeeter can’t believe his fortune, but he comes to understand, the developments in his own life are being directed by the details in his bedtime stories contributed by his niece and nephew (Laura Ann Kesling and Jonathan Morgan Heit).

Now Skeeter’s stories are rather typical: cowboys, space men, gladiators and knights, but at least there are no O’Doyle jokes. And on a personal note, I have to say that Skeeter’s fantasies are pretty pedestrian. A cherry red Ferrari and a hundred million dollars? Please, how about the fact that your sister and her kids are moving away because the school they work and learn at, respectively, is closing down?

And I don’t know if this is a further comment on Skeeter’s lack of imagination, but the “Bedtime Story” sequences aren’t very creative. It’s an odd sensation to want to skip over the fantasy sequences in order to get the “real life” part and see how the kids’ additions to the story unfold in Skeeter’s life. It’s at these parts the writers seem to find a rhythm to follow.

At least Sandler’s in his element, even though his characters are constantly learning lessons in maturity he seems always at home reverting back to a carefree slacker no matter how much older he gets, or many times he’s played it. Guy Pierce, reversely, should be out his element in a kids-friendly, Adam Sandler movie but he really seems to get into the oily, sanctimonious stuffed suit well and he gets Xena Lucy Lawless as Harley Quinn to his Joker.

The kids are adorable of course, but mostly it seems like everyone’s just going through the motions. Even the typically vivacious Brand looks medicated. I guess it’s too bad then that Pierce doesn’t get a freak out, break down moment like Bradley Whitford in Billy Madison, or an obligatory Steve Buscemi cameo. That would have really spiced things up.

The kids will love it though, but to me that’s never a ringing endorsement of a true family film. The movie’s not that difficult to figure out; from the irritant attraction of Keri Russell’s teacher to Skeeter to the fact that the climax of the story will come down to the fact that the new hotel will be built on the grounds of the kid’s school. Interesting, but not all together compelling, Bedtime Stories won’t put you to sleep, but it won’t necessarily keep you awake either.