A Few Good Monsters

Rating: 8/10 (29 March 2009)

What a joy 'Monsters Vs. Aliens' was. Especially on IMAX 3D, which given the choice, any movie that comes out in IMAX format and 3D, should be experienced like this. Was it comparable to 'Bolt,' 'Kung Fu Panda,' 'Ice Age' or any Pixar film? Not really, but that didn't make it any less fun, exciting, funny and a great homage to previous B-movies of decades past. There were probably 6 dozen references  you'll spend a great portion of your time counting or realizing all they're throwing at you. Or you can just sit back and enjoy the awesome 3D ride. (My recommendation, definitively see it in IMAX 3D. It's truly amazing in that format and worth the extra cost.) The actually basic premise is monsters shut away in a prison the size of Montana (or the Matrix's lair) until they're needed to defeat an alien hell-bent on retrieving an energy source that turned Reese Witherspoon's Susan into the almost-50-foot woman. The movie revolves around Susan, her new found powers/strength/height, but as usual in animation, the secondary characters steal the show. Though easily recognized by voice and humor, Seth Rogen's BLOB, er, I mean BOB was hilarious, as was Hugh Laurie's Dr. Cockroach. Kiefer Sutherland's General was funny, but seemed to remind me a lot of his life-action character from 'A Few Good Men.' Originality be damned and predictable as all Hades, I still highly recommend for all humans  it's safe for kids, and certainly entertaining for adults who remember the drive-ins of years past. (Funniest laughs involve the screaming woman at the old news reels, the evil laugh of Dr. Cockroach and any scene involving Bob or Insectasaurus. The (unfortunately only) two action scenes were inventive and extremely fun to watch, especially the Golden Gate Bridge.)