Monsters vs. Aliens 3-D Review
I’ve always been a fan of old school monster movies. Whether set in the halls of a Transylvanian castle or the busy streets of Tokyo; whether the villain is one of the iconic ghouls of the Universal roster or one of the imposing behemoths of Japanese cinema; nothing quite captures the imagination in the same way that a good monster can.
More so than any other genre, horror films change with the times. Often, they can serve as a window, illuminating the fears and anxieties of the popular psyche. The city-devouring monsters and coldly determined alien invaders of the 1950s were, in many ways, proxies for the American public’s Cold War fears of foreign invasion and destructive nuclear war.
DreamWorks’ new animated family feature, Monsters vs. Aliens, does a good job of capturing the pulpy and paranoid spirit of a classic Cold War monster mash. I’m probably reading too much into this, but I wonder what sort of psychological and sociological conclusions we can draw from the fact that we live in a world with big problems, not completely unlike the one of the 1950s (with a global economic crisis and the threat of international terrorists armed with weapons of mass destruction replacing ICBMs and the legions of the Evil Empire), and a film that pays homage to the monster movies of that era, and yet is geared toward a younger audience and is played for laughs, opens to a strong box office.
Regardless of what its success may reveal of our national mind, Monsters vs. Aliens is an entertaining and successful (but not stellar) piece of family entertainment that has a enough bells and whistles to keep kids engaged and just enough humor to keep parents from checking out.
Reese Witherspoon lends her voice to Susan, a small town girl with dreams of traveling the world. On her wedding day, Susan’s life takes a cosmic detour after she is struck by an oddly-glowing meteor. Later, as she meets her fiancé, Derek, at the altar, Susan begins to grow to mammoth proportions, breaking through the roof of the chapel and sending her friends and family running for the exit.
Shadowy agents quickly subdue Susan and transport her to a secret holding facility where the government has kept monsters hidden from the public for over 50 years. Here she meets the warden, Gen. Mounger (Kiefer Sutherland, who sounds like he’s playing Jack Bauer doing an impression of Yosemite Sam) and his charges: Dr. Cockroach (Hugh Laurie), B.O.B. (Seth Rogen), The Missing Link (Will Arnett), and Insectosaurus. Although Susan is desperate to return to her old life and is initially terrified of her monstrous roommates, she soon learns to see past their physical appearance and embrace them as friends.
But when a malicious alien named Gallaxhar (Rainn Wilson) launches a full-scale invasion of Earth, the President (Stephen Colbert) turns to Mounger and his monsters to save the day. Bonded by their friendship and inspired by the promise of freedom, the monsters set out to do battle with Gallaxhar’s army of gigantic robots and relentless clones.
Right out of the gate, Monsters vs. Aliens has two enormous strengthens pulling in its favor.
First, the monsters themselves are all delightful reflections of their 1950s cinema counterparts. Dr. Cockroach, a brilliant scientist whose philanthropic experiments spun awry and turned him into a ghastly melding of man and insect, is a dead ringer for The Fly. B.O.B., an amorphous being created in a lab that mysteriously gains consciousness and (semi-)intelligent thought, is a perfect comic foil for the malignant Blob.
The Missing Link is like a lovably insecure version of the Creature from the Black Lagoon, with shades of The Thing and a bit of Bigfoot thrown in. Insectosaurus, once a tiny bug, mutated by nuclear testing into a 300-foot tall monster, is obviously a cuddlier cousin of Godzilla and Mothra. Even Susan is a send-up of the titular character from Attack of the 50 Foot Woman.
I found these references to the film’s source material both enjoyable and grounding. They root the film in the popular consciousness of our cinematic past and help to strengthen the movie’s retro sensibilities.
Secondly, the film’s casting is stellar. Not only does it feature a number of well-known and likable actors, but most are perfect for their parts. Reese Witherspoon is known for playing characters brimming with charming innocence and a determined spirit. She makes it easy for the audience to connect and sympathize with Susan.
Hugh Laurie channels the eccentric side of his Dr. Gregory House into his performance of Dr. Cockroach. Rainn Wilson, known for his bizarre and overbearing turn as Dwight Schrute on NBC’s The Office, plays Gallaxhar with an equal measure of nerdy, arrogant swagger. Finally, Seth Rogen, who’s made his name playing lovably dense but earnest slackers, is an absolutely inspired choice for the (literally) brainless but endearing B.O.B.
While there are no major casting missteps, Sutherland’s General W. R. Mounger (get it?) is hit and miss, and Stephen Colbert is not nearly as funny as he seems to think. His President bumbles aimless through the film and most of his work comes off as a lame attempt at political satire.
I’m no expert, but the film’s animation seemed appealing, though, at times, a bit simplistic. While the occasional gimmick (like a character batting a paddleball repeatedly toward the audience’s face) made me feel as if the filmmakers might simply exploit the format, on the whole the 3-D presentation was immersive and truly enhanced the experience.
After failing to catch fire in the 1950s and again in the 1980s, the use of 3-D technology is once again gaining popularity. Famed director James Cameron is releasing his next (long-awaited) film in 3-D later this year, and no less of an authority than Stephen Spielberg has stated that he believes the future of cinema lies in the third dimension. If future films use the technology as well as Monsters vs. Aliens, then maybe the third time will be the charm.
Despite its gifted cast and unique format, Monsters vs. Aliens stumbles in other areas. While the action is frantic and colorful, it can’t hold a candle to the genuinely gripping and more sophisticated action in The Incredibles. Some of the humor rings true and yields quality laughs, but the film often plays to the lowest common denominator, sinking to the realm of toilet jokes, annoyingly repetitive bits, and pre-adolescent humor.
Certain moments, like a completely out-of-place nod to the politics of global warming and an impromptu techno riff on an electric keyboard, fail miserably and bring the film to a grinding halt. While it will likely hold short attention spans and certainly keeps the story moving, the movie’s brief running time sacrifices elements of characterization, narrative cohesiveness, and emotional impact.
Parents need to be aware that the movie models some imitative behavior (such as the President calling his scientific advisors “nerds” and Gen. Mounger giving an underling a “wedgie”) and highlights some bawdy humor (like a security door that checks fingerprints, feet, and hairy, naked backsides). Though any violence in the film is bloodless and mostly harmless, some parents may be bothered when a couple of clones are shot with a ray gun at point-blank range.
One scene features a high school couple, parked in the middle of nowhere with love on their minds. While nothing is explicitly spelled-out, it’s clear that they plan on enjoying the secluded location. When her boyfriend pulls away, the girl encourages him, saying “It’s just like dancing. I’ll lead!” As the scene continues to play out, the boy’s reluctance is shown as not only unreasonable, but unmanly, and the girl’s aggressiveness is portrayed as brave and adventurous.
While parents may not appreciate these messages, the film does present the positive themes of true friendship, service, and sacrifice. Children are taught to strive after their highest potential and appreciate the gifts and unique skills of others. Finally, the film portrays marriage as a positive bond forged in loving respect and demonstrated through mutual support and selflessness.
I enjoyed Monsters vs. Aliens, but, ultimately it fails to find the perfect balance of appealing to kids without pandering to them. It’s worth seeing, but unless you want to experience it in 3-D (and you’re willing to pay the extra $2 per ticket), I suggest you wait until it comes out on DVD.
Caution Rating: 2
