Movie Review - “Monsters vs. Aliens”
*** STARS
With references to “Attack of the 50 Foot Women”, “The Fly”, “Close Encounters of the Third Kind”, “The Blob” and “Creature from the Black Lagoon”, “Monsters vs. Aliens” makes it clear that the filmmakers are huge fans of early sci-fi/horror atomic age films from the early 50’s and late 60’s. This vibrant action packed new cartoon feature chooses to go the nostalgic route to entertain audiences instead of rehashing pop culture references and poop jokes, and it works.
The story centers on Susan (Reese Witherspoon), a bride whose wedding goes spectacularly wrong when she she’s hit by a meteor outside the church and proceeds to grow 50 feet tall. Immediately after her transformation, the military swoops in and whisks her away to a detention center for monsters. Witherspoon hasn’t sounded so youthful and refreshingly over the top in ages.
Among her fellow inmates are the gelatinous, blue B.O.B. (Seth Rogen at his side splitting best); the half-insect, half-mad-scientist Dr. Cockroach (voiced by the perfectly cast Hugh Laurie); and the part fish, part human Missing Link (the always funny Will Arnett). It is obvious the voice performers are having tons of fun in their roles but it is Stephen Colbert who steals every scene as the voice of the U.S. president.
This movie is visually awesome, action packed and eye-popping, particularly if you catch it in IMAX 3-D. The most spectacular part in the film was the brilliant staging of a monstrous battle scene at the Golden Gate Bridge. “Monsters vs. Aliens” effectively balances humor and action, as well as small character beats with big set-pieces. In the end I found this film to be a big, silly spoof of an animated film that was fast, hilarious and perfect for the kids and big children at heart!
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