"Monsters vs Aliens"

By David Hudson on 03/26/2009

[Updated through 3/27]

"Not to let any unnecessary ideology creep into a review of a fun animated movie, but let's get this out of the way up front," writes Jessica Winter at Slate: 'Monsters vs Aliens' is a film for children with a female lead. She is not the love interest, or the helpmate, or the mom. Nor is she a princess, or princesslike. She does not marry a prince or a prince-manqué. She does not marry at all. She tries to get married, but she is struck by a meteor on her wedding day (typical!), which transforms her into an unmarriageable, world-saving, 49-foot-11-inch superfreak and - thank you, O bountiful movie gods - a Strong Female Protagonist. (Or, as my more skeptical viewing companion put it, 'a strong female protagonist who just happens to be ultra-skinny with big boobs and a pneumatic butt, and who sometimes wears a catsuit.' Touché.)"

"Like some supersequel - 'Freddy vs Jason' or 'Alien vs Predator' -- that never bothered with any setup episodes, Monsters vs Aliens bursts onto the screen this weekend," writes Time's Richard Corliss. "Onto it and out of it, for this latest concoction from the tummlers at Jeffrey Katzenberg's DreamWorks shop is being tub-thumped as the first feature-length animated movie to be conceived as a 3D spectacle (not just converted to the format). As such, it's zazzy and colorful, its creatures no less graphically plausible for seeming like they're ready to leap into your lap."

Robert Wilonsky in the Voice: "The five-year-old sitting beside me at a preview screening of 'Monsters vs Aliens' last weekend offered his own endorsement not 10 seconds into the movie - around the time chunks of blown-up planet appeared to land in his lap. 'Whoa, Dad,' he said. 'Awesome.' The chorus of children around us agreed, as the theater echoed with giggles, squeals, and the random bleats of adolescent amazement."

"'Monsters vs Aliens' is a bit of a departure for DreamWorks, in that its humor is less reliant on ephemeral fads," writes Sean Burns in Philadelphia Weekly. "It's not great - but it's not bad - and it's the first flick I've seen from these people that won't seem dated by the time it hits home video."

Nick Schager in Slant: "As per DreamWorks convention, Rob Letterman and Conrad Vernon's tale is a nicely CGied, mildly amusing trifle without a sturdy - or, in this case, even coherent - thematic backbone, though if its plot is slight and its combat is ho-hum, at least 'Shrek'-ish fart and poop jokes have been set aside in favor of innocuous goofiness."

"'MvA' is mostly a brainless parade of half-baked gags, punctuated by the occasional fourth-wall-breaking effect," writes Keith Uhlich in Time Out New York. "Only those who desire a paddleball to the kisser or a face full of Mothra snot need apply."

"Combining creepy-crawly creatures with exhilarating action, eye-popping animation (see it in 3D if at all possible) and a seemingly inexhaustible supply of sharp, smart laughs, it's a treat for all ages," finds Alonso Duralde at MSNBC.

"The ease with which the 3D has been incorporated makes 'Monsters vs Aliens,' after 'Coraline,' the second straight movie to show off the positive possibilities of the much maligned, though increasingly more utilized format," writes Robert Levin in the Critic's Notebook.

"Most of the film has so many pans, reveals, vaulting perspectives and spatial juxtapositions, it's obvious the makers forgot about the audience and were merely flexing gigabytes," writes Armond White in the New York Press.

Anne Thompson lists ten more 3D features heading our way after this one.

Earlier: "Selling 'Monsters' and 3D."

Updates, 3/27: "'Monsters vs Aliens' is no better than most family-friendly animated entertainment, but there does seem to be more of it," writes AO Scott in the New York Times. "Everything looks bigger and rounder. The environment is deeper and thicker. The blob of blue goo with one eye and Seth Rogen's voice is more palpably, quiveringly slimy.... Somehow Mr Rogen, whose next live-action vehicle opens in a few weeks, keeps postponing the moment when we tire of him. His affable stoner vibe is the best thing in 'Monsters vs Aliens.'"

"DreamWorks continues its streak of lagging noticeably behind Pixar," writes Evan Stewart in the Stranger. "'Monsters vs Aliens' is nothing special, but it's still cute."

"The long-standing Dreamworks vs Pixar rivalry aside, 'Monsters vs Aliens' isn't, and isn't pretending to be, as ambitious a project as Pixar's almost universally lauded 'Wall-E' was," writes Stephanie Zacharek in Salon. But does it have to feel like something that's just rolled off a conveyor belt, made according to an exacting but dull set of specifications?"

"[I]f this is the future of movies for grownups and not just the kiddies, saints preserve us," sighs Roger Ebert in the Chicago Sun-Times.

Tasha Robinson at the AV Club: "The story is crammed with incident, yet completely trifling; there are a ton of personalities, but no real characters. It zips along at hyperspeed, alternating jokes, explosions, and videogame-ready action segments, but never comes to rest long enough to make an impression."

Anne Thompson profiles Rogen for the Daily Beast.

For the L Magazine, Henry Stewart and Benjamin Sutton discuss the film. At length.

"'Monsters vs Aliens' is a loud, rushed, choppy, silly, colorful Nintendo game of a movie, and if you're judging an 88-minute family flick by those specific criteria, then odds are you'll have a diverting time with DreamWorks' new production," writes Scott Weinberg at Cinematical. "But if you're looking for the artistry, the warmth, or the extra dimensions of a Pixar production, I'd say you wait for 'Up,' or just lower expectations where 'Monsters vs Aliens' is concerned."

[Photo: "Monsters vs Aliens," DreamWorks, 2009]

Tags: 3D, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Monsters vs Aliens