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Monsters vs.
Aliens
Starring: Reese Witherspoon, Rainn Wilson, Seth Rogen, Hugh Laurie
Directed by: Rob Letterman, Conrad Vernon
Produced
by:
Lisa Stewart, Jill Hopper, Latifa Ouaou
Written
by: Maya Forbes, Wallace Wolodarsky, Glenn Berger, Rob Letterman,
Jonathan Aibel,et al
Distributor: Paramount Pictures |
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When I review
a movie solely because I think it will do well at the box-office
and translate into a lot of website hits, it’s usually true that
the movie’s intentions are equally commercial and inartistic. I
have little to say about Monsters vs. Aliens mostly
because the film doesn’t contain anything that merits even a
molehill of words. If you’re excited by the basic premise of the
title and the fact that the film uses cutting-edge Tru3D
technology, then you’re probably a third-grader and this is your
movie. But for the rest of you: note that I didn’t include those
excited by what could be done with said premise and 3D,
because the film’s laundry-list of writers and directors didn’t
spice things up beyond making the visuals look expensive, now a
multiplex standard, 3D or not.
It’s films
like Monsters vs. Aliens that make moviegoers realize how
much a strong story matters because, as mind-boggling as some of
the colorful devices that pop out at the audience are, it will
be hard for those over age 12 not to fall asleep during the
movie because it’s so conventional and predictable. Viewers have
seen Susan Murphy (Reese Witherspoon), an everyday woman who
transforms into Ginormica (no explanation required) when hit by
a comet, and a troupe of government-imprisoned monsters battle
alien-leader Gallaxhar (Rainn Wilson) a thousand times, albeit
in different settings with different characters.
Yes, there
are a few comical references to bad ‘50s sci-fi and dated jabs
at George Bush’s dorky qualities in Stephen Colbert’s President
inserted throughout for adults, but should we not expect these
“easter-eggs” from any studio animated feature? The same goes
for the semi-humorous voice-work, although it should be noted
that the charming Witherspoon, Wilson, Seth Rogen, Hugh Laurie,
Will Arnett, and the rest of the cast seem to have
sleepwalked—or in Rogen’s case, baked—through their roles at
half-capacity. Leaving the multiplex, I suspect most viewers
will resent that no portion of the $5 premium they paid for the
IMAX 3D ticket required to see Monsters vs. Aliens in its
optimal visual form went to hiring better writers.
-Danny Baldwin,
Bucket Reviews
Review Published
on: 3.27.2009
Screened on:
3.21.2009 in IMAX 3D at the Edwards Mira Mesa 18 in Mira Mesa,
CA.
Monsters vs. Aliens is rated PG and
runs 94 minutes.
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