The one with the mini movie review – Monsters VS Aliens (3D)

Here comes another CGI animated movie from the studio behind the likes of Shrek and Shark tale, DreamWorks Animation. Monsters VS Aliens is the latest movie to hit Cork cinemas in 2 versions. The “normal” version and the more expensive “3D” version. The difference in price of admission is around €2 more expensive for the one where you get to wear the glasses. And, you get to keep the glasses as well. Not that you’ll ever wear them in public, doing so may be hazardous to your health!

Reese Witherspoon, Seth Rogen, Hugh Laurie, Paul Rudd, Kiefer Sutherland are some of the many stars to lend their vocal talents to Monsters VS Aliens. The movie revolves around Reese Witherspoon’s character (Susan / Ginormica) who gets flattened by a meteorite on the day of her wedding. By the time she recovers and staggers down the aisle, shes glowing and decides to grow 70 feet. From there the military take attempt to capture her and when they eventually do, she’s brought to a secure “hotel, where the doors are always locked”.

Its here she gets to meet the rest of the Monsters, B.O.B. (Rogen), Dr.Cockroach (Laurie), the missing link (Will Arnett) and the gigantic Insectosauras. While the pleasantries are going on, aliens are on a mission to recover the meteorite that crashed landed on Susan's head. From here, the guys get together, under the instruction of General W.R. Monger (Sutherland) to battle a giant robot and eventually go off and stop the evil alien overlord.

The story is straight forward enough, and I guess it has to be given the movie is aimed at kids. That said, there wasn't a smell of a carpet crawler in a late show at 11.30pm The animation and over all look of the movie is very well polished. The cast put in an average performance, but for me the runaway success was Seth Rogen’s character of B.O.B. The majority of the laugh out loud moments are mainly supplied by B.O.B. in a selection of brilliant one liners. The rest of the comedic moments are caused by any interaction the rest of the crew have with Insecto (a gigantic bug)The story isn't going to set your pants on fire, neither will the laughs which there are plenty, but with only a handful of real laugh out loud moments. The 3D effects are used subtly and are not completely over the top, in the sense where your not constantly ducking and weaving like a Mike Tyson opponent. Don't get me wrong, you will be ducking and diving at times and the 3D effects do bring more than the occasional smile! Pay the extra for the 3D version as the kids will be blown away and the adults not too far behind them.

Monsters VS Aliens is an enjoyable movie, which adults and kids will enjoy. But I cant help but feel that is just by the numbers. Its not as clever or as detailed as past offerings from DreamWorks animation. But, that said, its 90 odd minutes of entertainment and escapism and in the current climate that's a good thing!

7/10