Director: Conrad Vernon & Rob Letterman
Starring: Reese Witherspoon, Seth Rogan & Hugh Laurie (voices)
A highly entertaining animated adventure that takes a high concept and makes it equally appealing to children and to adults with excellent CG animation.
The very best family films are those that are able to appeal to not only children, but also to the adults that will accompany those children to watch the film. With Monsters vs. Aliens, Dreamworks has managed to make a film with a concept that appeals to children, to the child inside most adults whilst also offering enough humor that appeals directly to adults, or at least those with a history of enjoying films featuring Monsters and/or Aliens.
When a strange meteor hits Susan Murphy (Witherspoon) on her wedding day, she finds her life forever changed as properties within the meteor make her grow to 50ft tall. Having been captured and contained by the US Military, Susan finds herself in the company of other strange creatures including: Dr. Cockroach (Laurie), a mad scientist with the head of a cockroach; The Missing Link (Will Arnet), an amphibious-reptile man; Bob (Rogen), a living gelatinous blob and Insectasaurus, a gigantic insect. The chance for freedom for Susan and her companions comes when the Earth finds itself under attack by an alien robot sent to track down the energies of the meteorite that affected Susan therefore leading to high adventure and action where Susan learns of inner strengths she never knew she possessed.
Taking cue from children’s stories and films like Monsters Inc. the makers of Monsters vs. Aliens make sure that while their characters are recognizably monsters, they are nevertheless likeable monsters, helped by the addition of comedy actors to provide their voices and plenty of humor both verbal and visual. The makers of the film also ensure that there are plenty of in-jokes for fans of the B-Movie Monster and Alien films of the 1940s to the 1970s with its monster’s origins reflecting those of popular movies such as Attack of the 50ft Woman, The Fly, The Creature from the Black Lagoon, The Blob and Japanese Mothra films whilst also referencing popular Sci-Fi films like The Day the Earth Stood Still, Close Encounters of the Third Kind and even Dr. Strangelove. Whilst such references may be lost on young children, they help add an extra layer of fun for adult audiences.
Monsters vs. Aliens also features a strong voice cast featuring Reese Witherspoon as the lead character Susan who brings plenty of lovability and confidence to her character. Giving support is Hugh Laurie (TV’s Blackadder, Jeeves & Wooster and USA’s HOUSE M.D.) who relishes the chance to play Dr. Cockroach as a sound intellectual in one moment and maniacally laughing mad scientist in the next; Seth Rogen (Knocked Up, Pineapple Express) mines his laid back charm as the blissfully mindless blob Bob with Rogen’s own laugh being particularly suitable for his character’s childlike naivety; Will Arnet (TV’s Arrested Development) provides his character, The Missing Link, with the right amount of bravado but with sensitivity too whilst Rainn Wilson (USA’s The Office) is enjoyably obnoxious and superior as the Alien leader Gallaxhar. Rounding out the rest of the roles include Kiefer Sutherland (TV’s 24) who parodies his Jack Bauer persona as a gung-ho General and Stephen Colbert (of political satire show The Colbert Report) as The President of the United States.
Overall, whilst the plot itself is fairly simple and straightforward, Monsters vs. Aliens features enough humor, action, enjoyable characters and performances and impressive visual effects (be sure to see the film in 3D at cinemas if you are able) that Monsters vs. Aliens is very enjoyable and appealing to old and young audiences alike. Recommended.
Rating: 4/5
