4.03.2009

Monsters vs. Aliens

Monsters vs. Aliens

How nice for my expectations to be surpassed for once. Especially with a non-Pixar animated film. Monsters vs. Aliens manages to tell a rather typical story in a creative and fun way, and isn't that what movies like this are all about? Many strive and few succeed. Here is a film that succeeds.

We begin with Susan, who is typically marrying the love of her life, who cares only about his career. Then she is hit by a meteor and grows to be about 50 feet tall. The setup is not important. There is subtle humor up to this point and many interesting details which lead to Susan being captured by the government, well, for forever.

My experience, for the first time in anything (not only in movies), was enhanced by the presence of kids. When the other monsters are introduced (a blob of blue jello, a genius cockroach, an extreme amphibian, and the most adorable giant insect ever), when they exhibited their unique abilities, the kids behind me, silent to that point, laughed hysterically. This helped me release my critical mind and go along for the ride. I suggest you do the same.

And Susan learns to accept her new, giant self. She knows she can't go back to her old life, and the world is saved because of the Monsters. We can all see that coming. But as the cliche goes, it's not in the result, but in the journey. And this is a fun journey.

IMAX and 3-D recommended.

Rating: 5/7

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