Post by BIGFANBOY on Mar 26, 2009 3:56:33 GMT -5
MONSTERS vs. ALIENS
Review by Gary Dean Murray
For those who have taken in my cinematic writings over the years, it is no secret that I have a love of old horror and sci-fi films. Those bug-eyed monsters attacking the planet always are a soft spot in my heart. As a kid, I watched each and every movie with rubber creatures and loved every minute of it. So, it should come as no surprise that I loved each and every frame of the newest Dreamworks Animation feature Monsters vs Aliens.
The story is straight out of old school science fiction. Susan (voiced by Reese Withersthingy) is our bride to be, marrying the local weatherman Derek (Paul Rudd) who longs to be a network anchor. On what is supposed to be her perfect day, a glowing meteorite lands on her head and this little lady turns into a 49 foot 11 inch woman. The government, headed by a jet pack loving General Monger (Keifer Sutherland), instantly captures this 'freak of nature'.
Then we get the back story. Back in the 1950's it was decided to capture all of the monsters that plagued the planet and keep them locked up for safe keeping. We get The Missing Link (a Black Lagoon style fish-man), Bob a blue blob, the Mothra like Insectosaurus and Dr. Cockroach a half man-half insect experiment gone awry. Our almost 50 foot woman is given the name Ginormica.
At first, it looks like she is going to have to spend the rest of her life in a secret government lab. But something happens, and it always does. On the other side of the plot, diabolical alien mastermind Gallaxhar is looking for the space rock. The substance that has turned Susan into Ginormica is also the stuff that can help our squid-like evil genius into taking over the Earth. Like every other super villain, he has a giant sinister plan that just needs that one element to work. And that element is in Ginormica.
So we now have our set-up and the fight is between Monsters vs Aliens. The biggest set piece is a battle royal in and around the Golden Gate Bridge with the suspension getting the worst of it all. And everything builds to an epic space ship battle, the second major set piece. But between the two, Susan finds that the monsters are all good and honorable individuals. She also finds that being a tall gal does have advantages.
For those who live for the cinematic references, this is maximum overload. There are sly inferences to Metropolis, Dr. Strangelove and Gulliver's Travels. With every frame, there is yet another lifting from another movie. But, this is not just a film for film geeks and it works as a straight comedy film.
Out of the entire cast, there are two truly standout voices. First is Seth Rogen as Bob. He gets a lion share of comedy lines and chews up each scene where she gets to show off his blue hued shine. The woo pitching with a plate of Jell-O brand gelatin is a particular hoot. The biggest laughs come from Steven Colbert as the President of the USA. It is a cross between Tek Jansen and a Heavy Metal caricature. He chews up every scene that he's a part of and the big red button gag is a major ironic twist.
One has to hand it to the team of artists who crafted this gem of a flick. It comes off the screen in an explosion of color with every edge of the cinematic frame filled as if it were a painting. It is a visual feast for he eyes and leaps from what was accomplished just a few years ago. This is a new standard for the technology of computer generated animations. And this is a film that just will not work as well on a small TV screen. It was made to be experienced on a giant screen.
But without the story, this would fall flat on its face. Directors Rob Letterman and Conrad Vernon craft a tale that will appeal to both the kids and the kid that still lives in every adult. It becomes a fun journey that everyone can identify with on some level. And they make the 'monsters' the most 'human' of all the characters.
Monsters vs Aliens is easily one of the best times of one can have at the movies. I loved this little film and cannot wait to see it again. If you have to choose between food and seeing this film, forsake the grub.
To go back to BIGFANBOY.com click here - www.bigfanboy.com