Directed by Rob Letterman and Conrad Vernon. Starring (voices) Reese Witherspoon, Hugh Laurie, Seth Rogen, Will Arnett, Kiefer Sutherland, Rainn Wilson, Stephen Colbert. Animated/Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Comedy Synopsis: A bride to be is hit by a meteor on her wedding day, causing her to grown to enormous size. She is captured by the government, who harbors her in secret along with other monsters who are called on to fight an alien invasion.
Really loved this one. First off, you need to know you will see some excellent animation in this flick which was shot in 3-D. Its just amazing that modern animation can be so life like, totally different from the time when I was a kid and I make no bones about the fact that, even as an old codger, I enjoy animated films/cartoons.
Even more importantly, the story is good. Not only that, its funny and well directed. Susan Murphy (Reese Witherspoon Freeway) is about to take her vows with her intended (Derek Dietl), who is a weatherman, and informs Susan that will be heading to Fresno for their honeymoon instead of the previously intended Paris, as he has an interview with a TV station there. Susan is a little disappointed, but supportive, although her special day is about to get worse.
See a meteor dang near hits Susan in the head but, despite being a little shaken up and dusty, she thinks she is good to go for her wedding. She's wrong. Before exchanging vows, she starts to glow a shade of green and, before you know it, she grows to 10 stories tall. Well, something like that will put a crimp in the wedding style.
One curious thing is how fast the military seems to respond, in fact, it is almost like they were expecting something. They shoot a tranquilizer into Susan and when she wakes up, she is in some type of top secret government facility. Moreover, she wakes up to some new pals, including a cockroach/human hybrid mad scientist named, appropriately enough, Dr. Cockroach (Hugh Laurie Flight Of The Phoenix ), a friendly, one-eyed talking blob of gelatin named Bob (Seth Rogen Observe and Report) , a vain, weight pumping amphibian called 'The Missing Link"(Will Arnett), and a 350 foot tall insect called, as you might guess, Insecto.
You see, Susan is now a monster and she is being kept out of sight with all the other monsters who have secretly emerged over the years. Running the whole show is crusty General W.R. Monger (Kiefer Sutherland The Sentinel) , who never seems to go anywhere without a parachute or his individual jet propulsion pack.
Susan is now to be kept out sight and mind as an official United States monster forever or, as General Monger tells her "...think of it as a nice hotel that you just can't check out of." Well, that news would depress anyone, much less a bride to be who just wants to go ahead and get hitched.
Luckily, the situation is about to change. There are some evil aliens on the way to Earth and they possess one heck of an imposing robot that seems invincible, plus they are led by the diabolical, five eyed, Gallaxhar (Rainn Wilson My Super Ex-Girlfriend) who is single minded in his determination to get back the precious element that one inhabitant of Earth has (guess who?) and the destruction of a species is no big thing for him...he's done it before.
Upon the emergence of the alien threat, as you might guess, the higher ups of the U.S. government get involved, including the keyboard playing, latte drinking President (Stephen Colbert) himself . General Monger convinces the Prez and his Cabinet that the only hope to ward off the alien intruders is his coterie of kep 'monsters' and, well, the showdown is on.
As I said before, the story is good. Not only that, the graphic animation is stunning and, not to be a cliche spewer, but it is hard to imagine choosing better voices for the characters, particularly Witherspoon's Susan, Rogen's Bob, and Sutherland's General Monger. There is plenty of satire, much of it brilliant, of our society, goverment, and cultural attitudes but none of it is mean spirited and all family friendly, in my humble opinion.
And, as with all wonderful animated film, there is an overriding theme that we all will (or should) agree on and in this flick its that what you look like on the outside is nowhere near as important as who you are on the inside.
Not groundbreaking stuff, but relevant and undoubtedly true nevertheless. Monsters vs. Aliens is simply a wonderful film, and those who pick up the DVD will be additionally treated to an informative menu of special features.
Do yourself a favor and watch this movie when you have the chance.
Really loved this one. First off, you need to know you will see some excellent animation in this flick which was shot in 3-D. Its just amazing that modern animation can be so life like, totally different from the time when I was a kid and I make no bones about the fact that, even as an old codger, I enjoy animated films/cartoons.
Even more importantly, the story is good. Not only that, its funny and well directed. Susan Murphy (Reese Witherspoon Freeway) is about to take her vows with her intended (Derek Dietl), who is a weatherman, and informs Susan that will be heading to Fresno for their honeymoon instead of the previously intended Paris, as he has an interview with a TV station there. Susan is a little disappointed, but supportive, although her special day is about to get worse.
See a meteor dang near hits Susan in the head but, despite being a little shaken up and dusty, she thinks she is good to go for her wedding. She's wrong. Before exchanging vows, she starts to glow a shade of green and, before you know it, she grows to 10 stories tall. Well, something like that will put a crimp in the wedding style.
One curious thing is how fast the military seems to respond, in fact, it is almost like they were expecting something. They shoot a tranquilizer into Susan and when she wakes up, she is in some type of top secret government facility. Moreover, she wakes up to some new pals, including a cockroach/human hybrid mad scientist named, appropriately enough, Dr. Cockroach (Hugh Laurie Flight Of The Phoenix ), a friendly, one-eyed talking blob of gelatin named Bob (Seth Rogen Observe and Report) , a vain, weight pumping amphibian called 'The Missing Link"(Will Arnett), and a 350 foot tall insect called, as you might guess, Insecto.
You see, Susan is now a monster and she is being kept out of sight with all the other monsters who have secretly emerged over the years. Running the whole show is crusty General W.R. Monger (Kiefer Sutherland The Sentinel) , who never seems to go anywhere without a parachute or his individual jet propulsion pack.
Susan is now to be kept out sight and mind as an official United States monster forever or, as General Monger tells her "...think of it as a nice hotel that you just can't check out of." Well, that news would depress anyone, much less a bride to be who just wants to go ahead and get hitched.
Luckily, the situation is about to change. There are some evil aliens on the way to Earth and they possess one heck of an imposing robot that seems invincible, plus they are led by the diabolical, five eyed, Gallaxhar (Rainn Wilson My Super Ex-Girlfriend) who is single minded in his determination to get back the precious element that one inhabitant of Earth has (guess who?) and the destruction of a species is no big thing for him...he's done it before.
Upon the emergence of the alien threat, as you might guess, the higher ups of the U.S. government get involved, including the keyboard playing, latte drinking President (Stephen Colbert) himself . General Monger convinces the Prez and his Cabinet that the only hope to ward off the alien intruders is his coterie of kep 'monsters' and, well, the showdown is on.
As I said before, the story is good. Not only that, the graphic animation is stunning and, not to be a cliche spewer, but it is hard to imagine choosing better voices for the characters, particularly Witherspoon's Susan, Rogen's Bob, and Sutherland's General Monger. There is plenty of satire, much of it brilliant, of our society, goverment, and cultural attitudes but none of it is mean spirited and all family friendly, in my humble opinion.
And, as with all wonderful animated film, there is an overriding theme that we all will (or should) agree on and in this flick its that what you look like on the outside is nowhere near as important as who you are on the inside.
Not groundbreaking stuff, but relevant and undoubtedly true nevertheless. Monsters vs. Aliens is simply a wonderful film, and those who pick up the DVD will be additionally treated to an informative menu of special features.
Do yourself a favor and watch this movie when you have the chance.
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