Battle of the Smithsonian commences Friday

Before Kevin James was Paul Blart the mall cop and Seth Rogen weirded us out as a security officer in Observe & Report, there was Ben Stiller as a museum guard in Night at the Museum, the fantastical kids comedy that brought the eclectic all-stars of history to life again. Stiller returns Friday in Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian to thwart Hank Azaria’s evil Pharaoh who attempts to rule the Smithsonian Institute at night when all of the museum’s exhibits and figures come alive. Don’t expect historically accurate monologues, but kids will love Owen Wilson and Robin Williams who are back as Jedediah Smith and Teddy Roosevelt, respectively, as Stiller falls hard for Amy Adams’ Amelia Earhart. Steve Coogan, Christopher Guest, Bill Hader, and Darth Vader co-star. Rated PG.