Fun, yet questionable

Rating: 8/10 (8 August 2008)

JJ Abrams kept us in the dark with his film Cloverfield. Now that it's here, it's safe to say it lived up to expectations-and then some. Abrams gives a monster we've never seen before, a camera view we've seen only once before (The Blair Witch Project), and a film we probably won't see for a long time.
The film centers on a going away party in honor of Rob Hawkins (Michael Stahl-David), who is moving to Japan for a job. The party is being thrown by his brother Jason (Mike Vogel) and Jason's girlfriend Lily (Jessica Lucas). Rob's best friend Hud (TJ Miller, in a role that seems like it was written for Rainn Wilson) is given filming duties for the evening, and we see the night's events from his point of view. Later that night, the party ends early when a huge monster attacks town. What makes this film great is that not only do we have a huge monster, but we have little monsters too. Rob and his friends later go searching in New York for Beth (Odette Yustman), his ex-girlfriend, whom Rob clearly still loves.
While the film has its good qualities (The monster(s), the special effects, Hud), it is sadly held back with its few problems. For one thing, it left more questions unanswered than it did answered. Sure that's fun, but this movie just went overboard on the unanswered questions. Another thing, with the exception of Hud, I found the other character quite annoying. And finally, the movie is just way too short.
Overall, a great and fun film. Please, please, please, JJ...make a sequel.