Two thumbs way down

Rating: 1/10 (10 April 2009)

The idea was fun. The story was even fun. What made this dreadful was the timing. Now this isn't the editor, this is the director and script. You would have moments that were just not even remotely amusing and time would be wasted and wasted and you'd still be there waiting for a punch line that never came. And of course when the moment was witty you never held it for the laugh.
So poor timing and a tedious script could not be made up for in vocal talent. I am a huge Hugh Laurie fan and he couldn't save the dreadful lines. And Stephen Colbert should have been given his writing team to make the president amusing. He couldn't deliver the lines given to him. Not his fault, he isn't an actor in the traditional sense. He is more of a presence/personality - and his show is hilarious.
My kids left the theater and never brought up the film again. They said they like it but unlike other films, they didn't ask for merchandise, to see it again ... and they aren't picky. They even liked the Dragonball movie today.
Don't waste your time paying for it. Rent it. Better yet, wait for free redbox Mondays and pick it up then. Truly as a parent there are too many lines you don't want your child quoting in public or at school - they will get in trouble.
Dreamworks wasn't creative. It wasn't Shrek where the creative ideas and good writing helped a lot of parents look past the crass subject matter.
But I suppose this film is just like the Ice Ages. Tedious and dull. But if you like them, you really like them ...