This movie is the perfect example of where the future of cinema is headed. I was reading an article earlier this month on CGW about how the producers of this movie see 3D as the next great step in movies, following color and the widescreen format. Now my only hope, is that filmmaker’s don’t forget the most crucial aspect of the artform: story. Story has been (and will always be) the single most immutable (and important) component of films. And just as when Jurassic Park ushered in the era of modern CG visual effects, there came a slew of mediocre films with high fx budgets, so I fear that 3D will repeat that.

Not that Monsters vs. Aliens had a bad story, I just think that if you look at the film without the 3D aspect of it, you won’t find it as entertaining.

Quirky Reese Witherspoon is spot-on as Ginormica

The movie opens with young Susan Murphy (voiced by Reese Witherspoon), who is about to get married to the local TV Weatherman Derek Dietl (voiced by Paul Rudd). It becomes apparent very quickly, that Derek’s career is the focus of their relationship, much to Susan’s dismay. While pondering what seems to be a future full of doubt for Susan, a meteorite lands on her, unwittingly transforming her into a giant with great strength. She gets captured by the military and locked up in a facility where monsters have been imprisoned by the government for decades.

It’s here where she meets up with the rest of the quirky cast of Monsters. There’s the tiny mastermind-like coackroach, Dr. Cockroach, P.h.D (voiced perfectly by House’s Hugh Laurie), the amphibious 50′s-looking water monster, The Missing Link (voiced by the awesome Will Arnett from Arrested Development) and B.O.B., the walking one-eyed Jell-O mold (voiced by Seth Rogen, and probably the funniest character in the movie).

Seth Rogen's funny laugh suits B.O.B. perfectly!

We also get introduced to the other part in the equation in the movie’s title: the Alien villain, Gallaxhar (voiced by the always entertaining Rainn Wilson; Dwight from The Office). His obvious plan of doom-and-gloom is revealed and he sends out a singular probe (granted, the size of Godzilla), to find the source of Susan’s (now dubbed Ginormica) inexplicable growth: Quantonium!

The only other "alien" in the movie.

Progressing through a pretty awesome bridge-rescue scene, we finally see Susan accepting that she is now Ginormica, and that she needs to stop worrying about herself, and concentrate on the task at hand: stopping Gallaxhar.

One of the problems I had with the movie’s story is that it says “Aliens” in the title, yet throughout the whole movie, the only alien is Gallaxhar! The filmmakers focused too much on the cast of Monsters, that I guess they forgot their title was filled with plurals! (And no, multiple Gallaxhar clones don’t count!!!)

Either way, this movie is a great step forward for 3D technology, but not something that will thrill you out of  your seat. Watch it if you’re a fan of animation, or if you have kids.

P.S.: Stephen Colbert was HILARIOUS as the President of the United States!

President Colbert

–The Donz

FINAL RATING:

3.5/5 Eyeballs