Monsters Vs. Aliens
Watch out! Another bloated, over-produced, high-concept monstrosity has escaped from the labs at Dreamworks Animation.
But don’t be too alarmed. Monsters vs Aliens is fairly harmless – a toothless satire with a kneejerk female empowerment message and a sorry excuse for a plot.
Bubblegum feminist Reese Witherspoon lends her voice and her stature to Susan Murphy, first seen in a little white bridal gown digesting the disappointing news that her husband-to-be has nixed their honeymoon in Paris to pursue a career opportunity in Fresno. No sooner has she swallowed that bombshell than she’s struck by an incoming meteor with side effects straight out of a 1950s B movie. Susan is standing at the altar when she starts to grow, and bursting out of the top steeple before she can say “I do!”
Cast details
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Reese Witherspoon
Born: 22 Mar 1976
New Orleans, LouisianaTop rated films View all King Of The Hill - Season 4 (2004) 
Walk The Line - BLU-RAY Version (2005)
Dubbed “Ginormica” by the military, Susan is transported to a hush-hush high-tech secure unit designed to house unwanted monsters. To wit: Dr Cockroach (voiced by Hugh Laurie), a mad scientist who semi-advertently mutated with a bug; B.O.B. (Seth Rogen) an amorphous blue jelly-like blob who gets on just fine without a brain; Missing Link (Will Arnett), a gung-ho amphibian who’s all mouth. There’s also Insectosaurus, who resembles a giant dust mite and who has remarkably little to say for himself.
You might think that a 50 foot woman and this motley crew would be enough to generate some story ideas – something a bit more original than misfit superheroes saving the world would be nice – but for Dreamworks the mantra is always keep on top-loading the voice talent. Rainn Wilson is a squid-like evil alien invader (Gallaxhar), Stephen Colbert the US President, and Kiefer Sutherland riffs as General WR Monger. (Not to mention cameos by Paul Rudd, Jeffrey Tambor, Amy Poehler, Renee Zellweger and John Krasinski.)
Monsters Vs Aliens: Voice of Reese Witherspoon
Movie buffs will have fun counting up the references to myriad sci-fi classics – Close Encounters Of The Third Kind, Invaders from Mars, The Fly, The Creature from the Black Lagoon, The Blob, Mothra and Attack of the 50 Foot Woman, for starters – and other random bits and pieces (Dr Strangelove). But as in Shark Tale and the Shrek movies, these allusions aren’t integrated into a coherent story, they just dress up the filmmakers’ sketchy imagination.
Is it accidental that Gallaxhar resembles Barack Obama (except for the four eyes and eight legs I mean)? And does that make Susan a surrogate for Sarah Palin, or Hilary Clinton? We’ll probably never know for sure.
At least the first half moves along quite smoothly (assuming you’re willing to skirt several plot potholes), but once the introductions are over and we’ve enjoyed the splashiest of the big confrontations between the monsters inc. and Gallaxhar’s giant one-eyed robot (trashing several San Francisco landmarks in the process), Monsters vs Aliens soon runs out of places to go.
As in Dreamworks’ Kung Fu Panda the supporting characters don’t get much of a look-in once the action starts, and while Susan/Ginormica should be the mother of all female action heroines, she takes an awfully long time to learn some very basic lessons about self-respect.
Visually, too, it’s a disappointing step back after the sophistication of Kung Fu Panda. On balance you’re better off seeking out the 3D screenings, but 3D effects can’t compensate for 2D characters. All in all, M vs A confirms the extreme quality gap in the on-going face-off between the two market-leaders in the field of family animated features, Dreamworks v Pixar.
Reviews
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Critics' reviews
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Dreamworkss animated sci-fi offspring centres on the gigantic misfortunes of Susan Murphy, a feisty young thing with... read more on Time Out
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Most helpful members' reviews (3)
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18 out of 18 people found this review helpful
Monsters vs Aliens
Provided you watch this film in 3d, you'll love it's stunning scenes & graphics. More importantly it will take you mind off the fact that there is very little story and no new humour here at all. If you've ever seen a Dreamworks animated film before then there is nothing new here at all. Certainly nothing in the way of jokes or visual humour, I wonder if they've finally run out of fresh ideas? The 3d works superbly well though & is worth seeing for that alone.
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7 out of 7 people found this review helpful
Ace film
I really enjoyed this film. the animation was amazing. Im the type who appreciates the animation on films like shrek and this film too.
There's loads of giggles through the film.
I saw this on sunday (the second day of the previews) and we had to prebook our premier seats because the cinema was really packed out.
I adore these kids films. like Bolt and monsters inc and wall.e . So this film was a definite must watch.
and i wasn't disappointed. (i'm trying not to give away any spoilers in this review.)
To sum everything up, Susan and 4 other monster friends have to save the day from an evil alien after something (im not saying what but it makes an appearance at the start of the film, and its not the burger lol.)
This film is funny, well animated and heart warming. so what are you waiting for? go watch Monsters Vs Aliens!
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- beccaandjay from Manchester
- Posted 31 Mar 2009 12:19
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6 out of 8 people found this review helpful
[Highly rated reviewer]
Monster Hit
Stunning, brilliant, breathtaking etc, etc................
Saw the film in 3D and it took my breath away (that's twice!!). Some reviewers seem to think it is light on story, well it is for kids and it was ok for me, and I'm no kid!!!! The 3D is wonderful as is the CGI especially the detail and shading.
Go and see it and make a judgement, I'm sure you'll love it.
10 stars!!!!!!!
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- Maynard from Gillingham,
- Posted 15 Apr 2009 17:14
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Most recent members' reviews (2)
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2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
Great fun
As a person who should be far too old for this sort of thing i found this excellent.
Particularly liked the alien !
Great for young and old alike. -
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
[Highly rated reviewer]
monster disappointment
after watching the trailer, i was really looking forward to this. what an absolute disappointment. a story that went on 99% longer than it should have, humourless,and just plain inane.the animation is top notch,but thats it. dont bother.(dont even rent it, you will never get that time back).
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18 out of 18 people found this review helpful
Monsters vs Aliens
Provided you watch this film in 3d, you'll love it's stunning scenes & graphics. More importantly it will take you mind off the fact that there is very little story and no new humour here at all. If you've ever seen a Dreamworks animated film before then there is nothing new here at all. Certainly nothing in the way of jokes or visual humour, I wonder if they've finally run out of fresh ideas? The 3d works superbly well though & is worth seeing for that alone.
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7 out of 7 people found this review helpful
Ace film
I really enjoyed this film. the animation was amazing. Im the type who appreciates the animation on films like shrek and this film too.
There's loads of giggles through the film.
I saw this on sunday (the second day of the previews) and we had to prebook our premier seats because the cinema was really packed out.
I adore these kids films. like Bolt and monsters inc and wall.e . So this film was a definite must watch.
and i wasn't disappointed. (i'm trying not to give away any spoilers in this review.)
To sum everything up, Susan and 4 other monster friends have to save the day from an evil alien after something (im not saying what but it makes an appearance at the start of the film, and its not the burger lol.)
This film is funny, well animated and heart warming. so what are you waiting for? go watch Monsters Vs Aliens!-
- beccaandjay from Manchester
- Posted 31 Mar 2009 12:19
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6 out of 8 people found this review helpful
[Highly rated reviewer]
Monster Hit
Stunning, brilliant, breathtaking etc, etc................
Saw the film in 3D and it took my breath away (that's twice!!). Some reviewers seem to think it is light on story, well it is for kids and it was ok for me, and I'm no kid!!!! The 3D is wonderful as is the CGI especially the detail and shading.
Go and see it and make a judgement, I'm sure you'll love it.
10 stars!!!!!!!-
- Maynard from Gillingham,
- Posted 15 Apr 2009 17:14
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3 out of 3 people found this review helpful
Ignore the others...
...this film is funny!!! Me and my mates (25 years old) loved this movie. It was very funny, and sweet and full of action. The cinema was full of kids and adults and they all seemed to love it too.
I watched it in 3D and I think this is the only way to watch it!
It was great - especially BOB! -
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
[Highly rated reviewer]
Dreamworks Does Good !
I have to say that I loved this film, it was silly and had a simple but enjoyable storyline.
It's what you would expect from an animated childrens film. Lots of ridiculous jokes and ludicrous, lovable characters!
As always there are some jokes for the adults and plenty to keep the kids quoting the silly stuff for ages after. (well my son is anyway!)
Go see if you liked Shrek, Toy Story, and Madagascar.
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- lizturner from Milton Keynes
- Posted 23 Apr 2009 01:06
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2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
Well worth a watch
I took my 4 year old to see this movie and I seemed to enjoy it more, but he also enjoyed the 3-D effects. Great viewing, great entertainment and I liked the story unlike some other reviews.
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2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
[Highly rated reviewer]
Nothing to remember
Disappointing. Come on Dreamworks, have you used up all your best ideas? I really did not care for the characters, however the kids in the audience found some of the slapstick humor funny, but this is just it.
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2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
Monsters v Aliens
the children have watched this non stop since it arrived. As usual Pixar humour at its best with a few jobs that the adults get.
Great film -
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
Great fun
As a person who should be far too old for this sort of thing i found this excellent.
Particularly liked the alien !
Great for young and old alike. -
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
[Highly rated reviewer]
Bit Of A Disappointment!
Didn't watch it in 3D, but that shouldn't take away the fact that this is a very average film.
You don't really warm to any of the characters. The voice overs sound like they are something the actors did on a weekend when they had nothing else to do.
If you liked 'UP' and 'Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs' then this will come as a disappointment.
Critics' reviews
-
Dreamworkss animated sci-fi offspring centres on the gigantic misfortunes of Susan Murphy, a feisty young thing with... read more on Time Out