Monsters vs. Aliens

Overview News Staff Review Comments Photos Trailer/Clips DVD/Blu-ray Director:  Conrad Vernon, Rob Letterman Writers:  Maya Forbes, Wallace Wolodarsky Cast:  Reese Witherspoon, Hugh Laurie, Seth Rogen, Will Arnett, Kiefer Sutherland, Stephen Colbert Released:  Friday, March 27, 2009 Length:  94 minutes Studio:  DreamWorks Animation Website:  MonstersvsAliens.com Genre:  Animation/Family, Sci-Fi/Fantasy Rating:  Some material may not be suitable for children. Synopsis "Monsters vs. Aliens," which is slated for a domestic release date of March 27, 2009, reinvents the classic '50s monster movie into an irreverent modern day action comedy. The cast of "Monsters vs. Aliens" includes: Oscar® winner Reese Witherspoon ("Walk the Line," "Rendition") as Susan Murphy, a.k.a. Ginormica; Golden Globe winner Hugh Laurie (TV's "House," "Stuart Little") as Dr. Cockroach, Ph.D.; Will Arnett (TV's "Arrested Development," "Blades of Glory") as The Missing Link; Seth Rogen ("Knocked Up," "Superbad") as B.O.B.; Rainn Wilson ("Juno," TV's "The Office") as Gallaxhar; Emmy winner Stephen Colbert (TV's "The Colbert Report," "Bewitched") as The President of the United States; Golden Globe winner Kiefer Sutherland (TV's "24," "Phone Booth") as General W.R. Monger; and Paul Rudd ("Knocked Up," "Night at the Museum") as Susan's boyfriend, Derek. "Monsters vs. Aliens" is directed by Rob Letterman ("Shark Tale") and Conrad Vernon ("Shrek 2"), produced by Lisa Stewart ("I Think I Love My Wife") and co-produced by Jill Hopper and Latifa Ouaou. The film marks the theatrical debut of DreamWorks Animation's Ultimate 3-D, the studio's proprietary production process of authoring its animated films in 3-D from start to finish. 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. Purchase your copy of Monsters vs. Aliens today at Download Monsters vs. Aliens From iTunes Search for Monsters vs. Aliens merchandise on eBay. Monsters vs. Aliens Trailers, Cast and News @TVGuide.com. All Monsters vs. Aliens images are © DreamWorks Animation. All Rights Reserved. Overview News Staff Review Comments Photos Trailer/Clips DVD/Blu-ray Go see Monsters v Aliens in 3D at the 2D price....  3/19/2009 3:33 PM EST Courtesy of Bank of America and the United States of America Taxpayers....  More>> For more Monsters vs. Aliens news please visit FlickDirect's movie news section. Overview News Staff Review Comments Photos Trailer/Clips DVD/Blu-ray Flick Rating I know that this is going to sound kind of weird.  Especially when you consider that I'm talking about a motion picture where a 300-foot tall grub and a 350-foot tall alien robot grapple at Golden Gate Bridge...but DreamWorks Animation's latest production, "Monsters Vs Aliens" feels .. Well, kind of puny. Don't get me wrong. This Robert Letterman and Conrad Vernon film (which – FYI – is the Studios' first to be produced in Intru 3D) has lots of great gags, several very memorable characters as well as some action sequences that will really blow your socks off. But as for "Monsters Vs Aliens" ‘s overall story … This movie just isn't sure what it really wants to be. Is it a Mad Magazine-like sci-fi spoof? An affectionate send-up of monster movies from the 1950s? Or a female empowerment flick? And because "Monsters Vs Aliens" is kind of all over the map, story-wise (Silly one minute, sincere the next), it's hard to invest emotionally in this film. Which is why – in the end – DreamWorks' latest is pretty lightweight entertainment.  Where you'll laugh at individual lines & scenes as you're actually watching "MVA," but then not remember a whole lot as you're walking out of the theater. Which is a shame. Given that the folks at DWA clearly have a real affection for monster movies of the 1950s & 1960s. I mean, check out the film that General W.R. Monger (voiced by Kiefer Sutherland) shows the President (voiced by Stephen Colbert) in that "Dr. Strangelove" –inspired war room. That classified film is loaded with clips that duplicate the exact look, style, camera composition and even the lighting for individual shots from "The Fly," "Revenge of the Creature," "The Blob" as well as several Toho Studios releases. So obviously a lot of thought went into the planning of "Monsters Vs Aliens." As the creative team made sure that their film looked just right (EX: When the military finally fires upon that enormous robot, its deflector shields repel missile impact in the exact same way that the alien vessels did that in "Independence Day"). But – that said -- where is the skill, the solid storytelling, the depth of feeling that audiences found in "Kung Fu Panda" ? This time around, the only depths that DreamWorks Animation officials were interested in plumbing were depth of field & depth of focus. Now don't get me wrong. The 3D technology that's used in "Monsters Vs Aliens" truly is spectacular. Just the battle on Golden Gate Bridge -- as Ginormica (voiced by Reese Witherspoon) struggles to save all of those motorists while she avoids being crushed by that alien robot's massive claws -- worth the price of admission all by itself. But that said … As much as I may have been amused by B.O.B. (That bright blue ball of goo that Seth Rogen speaks for. Who – FYI – has most of the best lines in this motion picture. Including the sure-to-be-quoted "I may not have a brain but I do have a plan") I was still hoping for something more here. A film that wouldn't just dazzle my eye. But – like "Shrek," "Over the Hedge" and "Kung Fu Panda" – also touch the heart. I'm hoping that – once DreamWorks Animation gets a better handle on how to produce these Intru 3D movies – that they'll then be learn how to strike a balance between delivering an emotionally-satisfying story and  serving up a 3D spectacle. Because as of right now … Well, DWA clearly has the 3D spectacle stuff down cold. It's only when it comes to its storytelling that "Monsters Vs Aliens" comes up short. Your thoughts? --Jim Hill For more reviews please visit our movie review section. Overview News Staff Review Comments Photos Trailer/Clips DVD/Blu-ray Monsters vs. Aliens User Comments Login or register to post your comments, and let your voice be heard. Why Register? Flickdirect is powered by the community. 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