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There's something charming about an actor wanting to make child-friendly films after a career of crass dick and fart joke-loaded features. Bedtime Stories gives Adam Sandler a chance to create something his kids can actually watch. You know what? For the kids it'll be entertaining. From any other perspective, Bedtime Stories fails to be anything but mildly charming. Bedtime Stories is like that muzzled pony behind the fence at the petting zoo, the adults will smile at it because it's just very safe and visually tired - the children will laugh and scream in excitement without the parents having to worry.

Skeeter Bronson (Sandler) has worked as a hotel handyman ever since his father (Jonathan Pryce) sold it to Barry Nottingham (Richard Griffiths). Mickey (Russell Brand), Skeeter's confidant in a life unfulfilled, offers consolation and advice despite being less than fully operational in the head.

Bedtime STORIESby Eric Sloss, Writer When you think of Adam Sandler, family comedies do not come to mind. Most of his characters have ranged from angry immature men to angry immature men. He has a comfort zone and it has treated him right over the years. Acclaimed director Paul Thomas Anderson played off this persona to great effect in the vastly underrated “Punch-Drunk Love”. In “Bedtime Stories”, he dials down the persona to good effect. Adam is Skeeter Bronson, a hotel handyman whose father was a hotel executive. Rich hotel owner Barry Nottingham (Richard Griffiths) has plans to build a new luxury hotel. Skeeter desperately wants to run this new venture because he feels he is qualified with all the years he has lived in the current hotel. His rival to this position is the scheming Kendall (Guy Pearce). Kendall is one of those guys who would do anything to get ahead.

As its Christmas release date is lurking in the corner, "Bedtime Stories" gets a red carpet treatment in Hollywood. On Thursday, December 18, Walt Disney Pictures premiered this forthcoming family comedy at the El Capitan Theater in Los Angeles, where the red carpet was highlighted with the attendance of two U.S. marines who collect toys for their "Toys for Tots" program.

While glamor was brought to the red carpet by most of the film's female stars, including Courteney Cox, Keri Russell, Teresa Palmer, Lucy Lawless, Kathryn Joosten and Aisha Tyler, the male cast ensemble, Adam Sandler, Guy Pearce and Russell Brand, came in with their own casual looks. Also in attendance were two of the film's young stars, Jonathan Morgan Heit and Laura Ann Kesling.

Joining the actors on the occasion were director Adam Shankman, producer Jennifer Gibgot, and Disney's Jim Gallagher and Oren Aviv. Celebrity guests from comedians Rob Schneider,...