Dreamworks, in an attempt to capture the spirit of Pixar, recruits an A-list cast and a high-concept plot but fails to find a proper story to service them. Susan Murphy (voiced by Reese Witherspoon) is about to get married when she is struck by a giant, radioactive meteor that transforms her into a gigantic, 50-foot woman, which lands her in a secret military prison where other “monsters” are held to avoid interaction with the public. In prison, she meets a sardonic lizard named The Missing Link (voiced by Will Arnett), a brainy insect aptly named Dr. Cockroach (voiced by Hugh Laurie), and B.O.B. (voiced by Seth Rogen), a gelatinous blob who is brainless but means well. Rob Letterman and Conrad Vernon’s film rushes its first act by introducing more than a half-a-dozen characters, but they are so barely sketched that it’s difficult to identify and get swept up in their predicament, especially when an alien spacecraft lands and threatens the destruction of the planet. The only character that is given a proper story arc is Susan, who is conflicted between becoming a wife to a self-absorbed news reporter (voiced by Paul Rudd) or to continue the life of a gigantic, but independent and strong woman. Her ultimate decision should not be surprising to anyone who has seen Shrek, considering that the same studio made both. What Shrek had, though, besides its many cultural and pop references, was laughs, and plenty of them. Monsters vs. Aliens is fun, and thrilling in parts, especially during the two major action sequences at the Golden Gate Bridge and at the alien spaceship, but it lacks enough memorable comedy to make it resonate. What we get instead is an earnest female empowerment action movie that spends too much time on the aesthetic and not enough on the substance. The potential for big laughs was there in spades, considering the talent – particularly Stephen Colbert as President of the United States. And yet, it’s wasted. He is given nothing to do, save for playing a keyboard and pushing a few buttons. It’s too bad, because the film could have been a unique take on the classic science-fiction films of the 40s and 50s. Instead, the story seems only interested in getting our heroes to the next big action sequence at the cost of making the characters come to life. Shot in 3D, the characters and the surroundings will feel as if they were there in the theatre with you, and yet, when it’s all done, you’ll be wondering why the experience was so hollow.
Richard Saad
© Cinephile Magazine, 2009