Robin PottratzMovie Review: "Monsters vs Aliens" is flat...but still fun *** out of 4
April 19th 2009 20:30
In our current downtrodden economic times...the movies can serve as a place of refuge from the constant onslaught of negative news. Enter Monsters vs Aliens, the latest release from Dreamworks animation who, with the exception of Shrek, has been designated as producers of the cotton candy of computer animation...fun movies, but not as emotionally rich or deep as the releases of Pixar.
The key word of the last sentence is "fun." Dreamworks produces films that are fun and Monsters vs Aliens does fit the bill. There isn't much of a plot...in fact it is pretty much there in the title. Reese Witherspoon plays Susan, who after an alien material known as quantonium lands on her becomes a 50 foot woman who becomes known as "Ginormica." After her growth, she is recruited by General Monger (great name...as in fear) who is voiced by Kiefer Sutherland (having a ball). Apparently monsters have existed for years, and have been kept in captivity by the USA (a potential hidden agenda?...Nah)
In prison, Susan meets the other monsters, a huge caterpillar named insectosauras, a fish creature known as "The Missing Link" voiced by Will Arnett, a mad scientist named Dr. Cockroach (guess what kind of monster he is?) voiced by Hugh Laurie, and a brainless blue blob known as B.O.B. voiced by a sweet Seth Rogen.
When an alien named Galaxar(Rainn Wilson...trying so hard to just not be Dwight from "The Office) threatens the earth in an effort to get back the quantonium, General Monger persuades The President (Stephen Colbert in his vintage "Colbert Report" tone) to release the monsters in order to fight the oncoming alien invasion.
That's about it for the story. Of course, the movie is full of pop culture references and little sideplots...for example one about Susan's self absorbed fiance (Paul Rudd) and another with Insectosauras being wrapped in a cocoon and of course all of the monsters realize that all they have is each other...but Monsters vs Aliens isn't about story or nuance or depth...its about having fun at the movies.
Monsters vs Aliens is a lot of fun...especially in 3D, which I got an opportunity to see it in. Do I wish that it could have been a little wittier, deeper, or narratively stronger...absolutely, but a good time is a good time.
Sure there are more thought provoking and better movies out there...but few will give you as much value for your hard earned movie viewing dollar than Monsters vs Aliens, a goofy animated movie that achieves the only goal it strives for...to leave you with a big goofy smile on your downtrodden face.
Reese Witherspoon as "Ginormica", Seth Rogen as the blue "B.O.B", Will Arnett as the fishy "Missing Link
The key word of the last sentence is "fun." Dreamworks produces films that are fun and Monsters vs Aliens does fit the bill. There isn't much of a plot...in fact it is pretty much there in the title. Reese Witherspoon plays Susan, who after an alien material known as quantonium lands on her becomes a 50 foot woman who becomes known as "Ginormica." After her growth, she is recruited by General Monger (great name...as in fear) who is voiced by Kiefer Sutherland (having a ball). Apparently monsters have existed for years, and have been kept in captivity by the USA (a potential hidden agenda?...Nah)
In prison, Susan meets the other monsters, a huge caterpillar named insectosauras, a fish creature known as "The Missing Link" voiced by Will Arnett, a mad scientist named Dr. Cockroach (guess what kind of monster he is?) voiced by Hugh Laurie, and a brainless blue blob known as B.O.B. voiced by a sweet Seth Rogen.
When an alien named Galaxar(Rainn Wilson...trying so hard to just not be Dwight from "The Office) threatens the earth in an effort to get back the quantonium, General Monger persuades The President (Stephen Colbert in his vintage "Colbert Report" tone) to release the monsters in order to fight the oncoming alien invasion.
That's about it for the story. Of course, the movie is full of pop culture references and little sideplots...for example one about Susan's self absorbed fiance (Paul Rudd) and another with Insectosauras being wrapped in a cocoon and of course all of the monsters realize that all they have is each other...but Monsters vs Aliens isn't about story or nuance or depth...its about having fun at the movies.
Monsters vs Aliens is a lot of fun...especially in 3D, which I got an opportunity to see it in. Do I wish that it could have been a little wittier, deeper, or narratively stronger...absolutely, but a good time is a good time.
Sure there are more thought provoking and better movies out there...but few will give you as much value for your hard earned movie viewing dollar than Monsters vs Aliens, a goofy animated movie that achieves the only goal it strives for...to leave you with a big goofy smile on your downtrodden face.
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