Grade- B+
If Wall-E was the Ben-Hur of cinematic animation, Monsters vs. Aliens is a far better version of Dude Where's My Car?
Hilarious, spacey and hit-worthy when watched in 3D, Monsters vs. Aliens is laugh-out-loud funny to both its younger demographic and the certain 20-something green party enthusiasts it targets as well.
Although some people may write it off as just another children's film with a few "edgy" jokes thrown in, it is far from that description.
The comedy is almost non-stop from the beginning, which is bound to happen when the cast is laced with stars. Reese Witherspoon (Four Christmases) leads an all-star cast that includes Seth Rogen (Zack and Miri Make a Porno), Hugh Laurie (House), and Will Arnett (The Rocker). Those four, along with a giant insect named Insectosaurus, make up the monsters that must defend the Earth from impeding doom.
The humans are also loaded with their fair share of stars. Kiefer Sutherland (24) is the general that has captured, and leads, the monsters. Paul Rudd (I Love You, Man) plays Witherspoon's fianc?(c) and Jeffery Tambor (Hellboy II) plays her father.
Even with those stars playing perfectly picked roles, Stephen Colbert (The Colbert Report) outshines them all as he plays the role he was born to play, the President of the United States.
Although the film received a PG rating, Colbert brings his satiric humor to the big screen in trademark form. Almost every portrayal of Colbert as the president seems to be a pun on former president George W. Bush. Colbert shows some guts as a leader when he decides to call in the monsters to save the planet.
Witherspoon leads the four unlikely heroes, but Rogen's character supplies most of the laughs. Rogen plays "B.O.B," a gelatinous being that does not have a brain and can absorb and digest anything. The role allows Rogen to deliver jokes that are his forte.
Arnett plays "The Missing Link," a 20,000-year-old half-fish/half-ape hybrid who has super speed and agility. Arnett, best known for his work on Arrested Development, is a perfect comedic fit to support Rogen in the monster outpost.
Hugh Laurie does not stray far from Dr. House in Monsters vs. Aliens, as he plays Dr. Cockroach, Ph.D.
Dr. Cockroach is a result of his own mad experiments, as he tried to give himself the abilities of a cockroach. Though he manages to obtain the abilities of a cockroach, he unintentionally transforms into one, and a giant one at that.
The newest member, and the only female monster according to the film, is Susan Murphy, who was a normal girl that was nearly married when she got crushed by a meteorite. Afterwards, she grew to be 49 feet and 11 inches tall - a clear parody of the classic monster film, Attack of the 50 Foot Woman. Of course, Murphy is not a very good monster name, so she receives a nice new name from the government.
The four of them and Insectosaurus must stop an invasion of robots and clones of the only alien of his kind, Gallaxhar. They are bent on taking over the earth and destroying everything.
If the audience listens closely, they will recognize a familiar voice when Gallaxhar talks. Rainn Wilson, more commonly known as Dwight Schrute of Dunder Mifflin, is the man behind the greys.
The movie doesn't give much back-story into why Gallaxhar is going to take over the Earth. However, since the movie was shot in 3D, most audiences will be too enthralled with the special effects to care about something menial like a plot.
With typical Rogen humor, Monsters vs. Aliens is watered-down enough for the little ones, but funny and enticing enough to gain even the highest support.
