Rated PG for sci-fi action, some crude humor and mild language.
94 Minutes

Directed By: Rob Letterman and Conrad Vernon
Written By: Maya Forbes and Wallace Wolodarsky
Staring: Reese Witherspoon, Hugh Laurie, Seth Rogan, Paul Rudd, Will Arnett, Kiefer Sutherland, Rainn Wilson, Stephen Colbert, Amy Poehlar, Renee Zellweger, and John Krasinski

Turns out it eats lead. I’m brave! I am a brave president! -The President Of The United States

Review

Running toe to toe with the original Shrek, this is Dreamworks biggest animated success yet.  I often feel let down by most of Dreamworks finished products.  Movies like Antz, Shark Tale, and Bee Movie have been widely overshadowed by Pixar movies, which make fewer but far superior movies in the animation category.  Monsters vs. Aliens may not have had the heart and ingenuity that Pixar movies offer, but it had exhilarating animation, enjoyable characters, absurd villains, impeccable comedy, and an intelligent plot.

This outing was initialized by my six year old sons reward for a good report card, and I was lucky enough to be rewarded as well.  When the 3D glasses were placed in my hands, I felt a sense of anxiety.  The last 3D film I had seen was Jaws 3 and I was only a sproutling of four.  The experience as I recall, was lackluster, but I took in consideration that the movie was utterly bad, and my age.  In the first scene of Aliens vs. Monsters the setting is in space where I was bombarded with a magnificent 3D world as a radioactive meteor plummeted toward Earth.  The colors were vibrant and the detailed animation was exceptional.  After a few minutes I adjusted to the shock of today’s 3D and began to enjoy the movie.

The plot of the film gets right to the point with the radioactive meteor that’s direct path leads to a point of collision with a young girl preparing to marry the weatherman of her dreams.  Waiting for the big moment outside the chapel she envisions the ideals of spending her dream honeymoon in Paris.  She must C’est la vie her plans when the meteor crushes her and somehow dissolves into her body, making her a giant monster.  In her confused turmoil she is taken to a secret government compound where she meets a group of other monster misfits.  When a giant alien robot begins an invasion, the government has no choice but to call in it’s monsters to battle.

This was a great movie.  It had really well thought out character’s, and actors doing the voice-overs that translated their energy directly into each of their strange animated beings.  Seth Rogan as B.O.B the blue blob, was one of the funniest animated character’s that’s been onscreen in the last many years.  His own persona translated into the brainless blob so well, it seemed the role was created specifically for him.  Stephen Colbert as the President was just as entertaining as B.O.B.  The satire of his character was stimulating for adults and the physical humor they implemented was great for kids.  The roles of Susan, the Commander, Link, Galaxzar, and Dr. Cockroach are all fun character’s as well, including the giant groaning Insectosaurus.

Visually the animation was on an epic scale.  After seeing Wall-E last year I had high expectations in that category.  It didn’t have the textured or personal feel that Wall-E did, but it’s explosive bright colors and enormous creations gave it a contiguous balance of cartoon and reality.  The 3D was spectacular.  There were multiple moments were I actually jerked my head in concern for it’s safety from flying balls, crashing meteors, and aliens spitting their version of a latte.

The story telling itself is mischievous and fun, littered with pop culture references such as a bus driving by with the sign, “E.T. Go Home”, and people screaming “What would Oprah do?”.  There is a clever mix of entertainment for the kids with constant action and witty adult humor mixed in that will fly high over kids comprehension.  The throwback toold-school monsters and the inside jokes for the adults in regards to them just added more levels of enjoyment and appreciation.

Monsters vs. Aliens was hands down one of Dreamworks best animated creations, and one of the most memorable family movies that’s been released in years.  It had all the elements of what good film making entails and executed them flawlessly.  As long as you don’t try to look too deep into this movie, there will be nothing but pure childlike gratification when done watching.  Without question this will be joining my movie collection.  Monsters vs. Aliens was a MONSTER success.

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