3D is spectacular, but everything else is horrible

Rating: 4/10 (1 April 2009)

This may sound extremely strange if you haven't watched the it, but Monsters Vs. Aliens is an extremely unimaginative movie. The plot has been used millions and millions of times before. Now, the 3D is spectacular, so I give it props for that. But everything else about this movie is so... predictable. The screenwriters, tossed unoriginal material, clearly tried to make the most of it, but ending up flopping in the end, trying to include pop culture potshots, but not pulling it off as successfully as the Shrek movies. The voice direction, may I add, was also painful. If the directors were trying to squeeze any emotion out of Paul Rudd and Reese Witherspoon during their scenes together, or Hugh Laurie and Will Arnett trying to come up with a plan for their lives, they failed miserably. Seth Rogen seems to have to direct himself in the only decent voice performance in the movie. Yet, kids should eat this movie up, while adults should wince in pain at the horribly placed jokes and cringe at the cheesiness. The shallow plot tries to teach the lesson that it doesn't matter what your friends look like on the outside, it's what's on the inside that matters. Huh, that's a new one. While the producers and screenwriters try to keep kids entertained with "funny" jokes while they teach this lesson, the whole thing comes across as extremely cheesy. But, unfortunately, this one should score big at the box office. If anyone happens to read this review, I would recommend going to see I Love You, Man instead of Monsters Vs. Aliens; Paul Rudd is a million times better in it. Good day to you all.