Monsters Vs. Aliens

Movie Grade: B+

There's something really nostalgic about classic monsters, as well as good old sci-fi. Like I mentioned in my review of Alien Trespass, when you have an old style of film and you parody it, there will automatically be a certain fan base to support it. If you take that novelty and add some political humor and an outstanding cast, you get something along the lines of Monsters Vs. Aliens.

Well it's Susan's (Reese Witherspoon) wedding day and nothing could possibly ruin it, except of course for a meteor crashing down on her and causing her to grow to a massive size. She is quickly picked up by the government and imprisoned with other monsters. She quickly becomes acquainted with Dr. Cockroach (Hugh Laurie), The Missing Link (Will Arnett), B.O.B. (Seth Rogen), and Insectosaurus (Jimmy Kimmel), and she receives a new name, Ginormica. When the evil Gallaxhar (Rainn Wilson) attacks the Earth, the monsters are freed on the condition that they fight him off and save the planet.

Any classic horror or sci-fi fans with kids will love this movie because it will surely reference a few of your favorites. Some are very subtle references, like mentioning Red Dwarf or some settings to being very similar to settings in Star Wars, but others are much more out there. For one, all of the monsters are parodies of classic monster movies. Ginormica is the 50 Foot Woman, Dr. Cockroach is The Fly, The Missing Link is The Creature from the Black Lagoon, B.O.B. is very obviously The Blob and less obviously from Attack of the Killer Tomatoes, and Insectosaurus is Godzilla.

Parents who aren't fans of anything to do with monsters or sci-fi won't leave disappointed either. Anyone who watches TV or goes to movies will know someone in this ridiculous cast. Aside from the actors mentioned earlier, Amy Poehler, Renée Zellweger, and Stephen Colbert have small rolls. Colbert has a particularly appropriate roll as the President. There is one seen in particular parodying Close Encounters of the Third Kind where Colbert plays the Beverly Hills Cop theme; hilarious. You'll also probably love the 3D at any age because it really is amazing. We've come so far from those red and blue paper glasses.

Some of the action scenes will be able to keep adults entertained, at least if they can escape the cartoony nature. There are also a few great one-liners that kids and most adults won't get. Dr. Cockroach saying, "By Hawking's chair comes" to mind. A good portion of the action and comedy was similar to The Incredibles, so anyone who enjoyed that should get a kick out of this one.

What is great about this is that even with the action and adult humor, it never gets too edgy for a kids movie. Some of the kids movies coming out will

have one or two parts that seem to be a little too much for kids. Even though some of the movie definitely was put there to make the parents laugh, it is always appropriate for kids of all ages. There is some violence, but its cartoon violence; nothing worse than anything we have all seen on Looney Toons.

I have to admit that I am a pretty big fan of kid's movie. Obviously the ones I grew up with are always fun to look back on, but some of the new ones coming out really get me into it. I personally think Wall-E was one of the best movies of last year. Not that Monsters Vs. Aliens is anywhere as good as Wall-E, but it definitely manages to entertain both young and old. It has some little values to teach kids but was mostly made to just be fun.

Movie Grade: B+

Synopsis:

When California girl Susan Murphy is unexpectedly clobbered by a meteor full of outer space gunk, she mysteriously grows to 49-feet-11-inches tall and is instantly labeled a "monster" named Ginormica. The military jumps into action, and she is captured and held in a secret government compound. The world learns that the military has been quietly rounding up other monsters over the years. This ragtag group consists of the brilliant but insect-headed Dr. Cockroach, Ph.D.; the macho half-ape, half-fish The Missing Link; the gelatinous and indestructible B.O.B.; and the 350-foot grub called Insectosaurus. Their confinement time is cut short however, when a mysterious alien robot lands on Earth and begins storming the country. As a last resort, under the guidance of General W.R. Monger (on a desperate order from The President), the motley crew of Monsters is called into action to combat the aliens and save the world from imminent destruction.