Night at the Museum

Since Night at the Museum takes place at a museum of natural history, you might have expected its soundtrack to reflect a bit more varied influences. Of the handful of exceptions, "The Iron Horse" has flashes reminiscent of Western music, while "Caveman on Fire" strives to evoke golden-age cartoon mayhem--though like most tracks, it ends before anything can really develop. Indeed, the bulk of the soundtrack is made up of short cues (most lasting around a minute), and they would need more zip than they have to make an impact at that length. Alan Silvestri is no Danny Elfman, (who can usually be counted on to inject a few surprising elements into the most mainstream of scores). Here, the Hollywood Studio Symphony huffs and puffs, but little levity transpires. --Elisabeth Vincentelli