Bring your little middle aged guy!

Rating: 7/10 (6 December 2011)

Easily the most humorous moment of an often hilarious film involves a reference to Marlon Brando's performance as Jor-El, Superman's biological father in the movie of the same name. The parody is as potent as Superman's heat vision with Brando's mumbled, near-incoherent delivery, Conan O'Brien bouffant and ridiculously cheesy costume captured exactly. The interesting part of this involves realizing that the reference exceeds 30 years of age meaning to get it you likely need to be at least 40 years old. The other visual references include 1989's "Say Anything" and the 10 year old "A Beautiful Mind" suggesting a writing staff firmly in middle age. However, kids will enjoy the film for the rapid pacing and multi-dimensional action sequences and perhaps the best use of the 3D gimmick in this incarnation of its rediscovery. Will Ferrell, whose career can generously be described as hit or miss uses the exaggerated emotion in his voice-work as Megamind to excellent effect. While Patrick Warburton would have been a much better choice, Brad Pitt effectively nails the self-aggrandizing Metro Man by basically being himself. Also in the good but not great voice work casting category, Tina Fey has to be smart but sincere rather than sarcastic in the Lois Lane/Vicki Vale role called Roxanne Ritchie. Reese Witherspoon from "Aliens vs. Monsters" would have been a better choice. The excellent "Aliens vs. Monsters" represents the closest cinematic cousin to this film with less entertaining "Despicable Me" a close second. In short, this is not quite "Monsters, Inc." or "The Incredibles" but a very, very good time at the movies. You might also bring the kids (although they might wonder what you are laughing at).