In this economy, if you have to choose… this isn’t the one animated family movie to pack up the kids and head to the movie theater for this year… “Monsters vs. Aliens” is a movie you should probably wait to rent.

My initial reaction when the movie ended was “that was okay”, shrugged my shoulders and started making additional notes…. but in the end, it comes back to the movie being just okay.  I’m sure that kids will like the action and the funny business, and there are jokes and references to make parents laugh, but when it comes down to deciding which movie to drop $50 at the theater to take the whole family… this isn’t the one so far this year.

 I will say that the screening I attended was in 2D, not the intended 3D, and I would guess that this movie is probably better in 3D, so add 0.5 to my rating if your seeing it in 3D.

The characters are fun with good voice talent, but the story is overly predictable, some of the comedy seems forced like there weren’t enough jokes and gags for the whole movie, so they came up with some fillers… in the end, there’s nothing really special about this movie.

As far as the funny goes… this is probably Set Rogen’s funniest role yet… the combination of the comedic character of B.O.B. (on poster, left) and not seeing Rogen makes his lines the funniest of his career.

THE BOTTOM LINE: 

This movie will keep most kids watching and laughing, but for parents, when the good jokes run out, only the references to other sci-fi movies will hold your attention, references that include ”Independence Day”, “War of the Worlds”, “Close Encounters of the Third Kind”, “E.T.”, “Spaceballs”, and even the AXEL F theme from “Beverly Hills Cop”.   But in the end, this movie is just okay, nothing special… I give it 6.0 out of 10. 

 “Monsters vs. Aliens”

(2009) (rated: PG for sci-fi action, some crude humor and mild language)
(1 hr, 34 min)

Starring the voices of: Reese Witherspoon, Seth Rogen, Hugh Laurie, Will Arnett, Kiefer Sutherland, Rainn Wilson, Stephen Colbert, Paul Rudd, Julie White, Jeffrey Tambor, Amy Poehler, Ed Helms, Renée Zellweger, John Krasinski

Directors: Rob Letterman, Conrad Vernon

Genre: Animation/Sci-Fi/Action

The Plot: When a meteorite from outer space hits a young girl and turns her into a giant monster, she is taken to a secret government compound where she meets a ragtag group of monsters also rounded up over the years.

So what did you think?  Please post a comment!

“Monsters vs. Aliens” poster courtesy DreamWorks

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