Robin at museum in spirit
THE CELEBS WERE out for the “Night at the Museum 3” New York premiere, but there was one star who was missed – the late, great Robin Williams, who plays Teddy Roosevelt in the hugely successful trilogy.
“I know I speak for all of us that we were lucky to be alive to watch this genius work,” director Shawn Levy said before the packed screening at the Ziegfeld Theater. “We got to see what he created, and to those of us who got to work alongside him, that’s something that we’ll never stop being grateful for.” Addressing Williams’ widow,
Susan Schneider, who was in the audience, the Canadianborn director told how one night, filming in the British Museum and surrounded by “the Rosetta Stone and all this incredibly cool stuff,” he was feeling harried until the “Mrs. Doubtfire” actor tapped him on the shoulder and said, “Hey boss, look what we get to do.”
“It was so remarkable that this legend, this man had such a vivid wonder,” Levy said.
On the red carpet, Levy said he’s treated like a rock star whenever he visits the Museum of Natural History on the Upper West Side, where part of the movie takes place.
“I might get closer to VIP treatment at that museum than any restaurant in all of Hollywood,” he admitted. “They are very grateful for what the movies have done for their institution.” The star of the film, Ben Stiller, who brought his wife, Christine Taylor, and two kids, confessed to not getting along with one co-star in particular — Dexter the monkey (played by Crystal the monkey).
“He’s a pain. You don’t hear people talking ab about other actors on the red carpet like this, but I think ever since he saw ‘Planet of the Apes’ he has this whole new attitude towards humans that makes it really uncomfortable work with him,” Stiller joked. “I think he has to understand that we’re all in this together, and also he has to stop insisting on the green M&Ms in his trailer and all the riders in his contract.” (The allegedly difficult capuchin monkey was on the carpet clad in a tuxedo and forced to grin for photos in exchange for dabs of yogurt.) Steve Coogan had nicer things to say about his co-stars, specifically Owen Wilson.
“I get to hang out with my best friend, Owen,” he told us. “To me it was like a holiday, so it really didn’t feel like work. We hung out together, made each other laugh and then occasionally shot some film.”