With Every Entourage, a Kid or Two

The Scene: The invitees fanned out to all corners of the Sony Pictures lot Sunday afternoon, as nearly every screening room was pressed into service for the premiere of TriStar Pictures’ “Jumanji,” an effects-heavy action-adventure film starring Robin Williams. After the screenings, the crowd coalesced inside a giant tent decorated in a “M*A*S*H”-meets-”Congo” motif for the reception. The party also served as a benefit for the Los Angeles Children’s Museum.

Who Was There: More than 1,200 people of all ages showed up, including cast members Williams, Kirsten Dunst, David Alan Grier, Adam Hann-Byrd, Bonnie Hunt, Jonathan Hyde, Bradley Pierce, Laura Bell Bundy and Bebe Neuwirth; director Joe Johnston, and the film’s screenwriters and producers. Also making the scene were Dan Aykroyd, Tom Arnold, Billy Crystal, Jodie Foster, Sharon Stone, Alan Thicke and Lori Petty.

Most Ubiquitous Accessory: Kids. The premiere was held at matinee time and a child in one’s entourage was de rigueur. Those who have them, such as Aykroyd and Williams, brought their own offspring. Even those without, such as Stone and Foster, still came with nieces or someone else’s tykes in tow.

The Buzz: Most of the laudatory comments were reserved for the special effects. The movie combines live action with computer-generated images, meaning that the fauna-heavy film actually uses no live animals. This requires more of the actors since much of what they would be reacting to was added to the film later on. “It’s so unusual to stand and respond to something that’s not there or talk to something that’s not hearing you,” said lead actress Hunt. “Of course,” she added, “I’m married, so I’m not that unfamiliar with it.”

Food, Fun and Games: There was no shortage of buffet tables and most of the food leaned toward kiddie cuisine: grilled cheese, tuna salad and peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwiches, French fries and onion rings, cookies and ice cream, and more Coca-Cola than beer or mineral water. Adult comestibles included roast beef, and turkey with stuffing and gravy. There were Jumanji games to play, children’s tables stocked with arts and crafts supplies and a computer graphics photo booth that inserted your picture into a scene from the movie.

One Thumbs Up for the Licensing Agreements: “Mom! Mom!” shouted one enthusiastic young guest. “We can go buy the game at Toys R Us!”

Why We Were All Here: “This is the largest fund-raiser the museum has had in years, so it’s very exciting for us,” said Jann Williams, vice president of the Children’s Museum board of trustees. “We’re going to spend it on programs, exhibits.”

Quoted: “It’s astonishing to see an entire roomful of people go ‘Whaaa!’ ” said Robin Williams, who indefatigably signed autographs and clowned around for the throngs of diminutive fans. “You know, they lean back and get that group whiplash. During some of the scenes, like when the stampede comes through, even jaded executives go crazy.”

Money Matters: Ticket prices ranged from $50 to $25,000. More than $250,000 was collected for the museum.