Far from being menacing, they’re bullish misfits who just want to be loved and understood. Rather than destroying each other, they’re trusted friends who’ve been trapped together as regime assay subjects, only to be unleashed on the domain when an stranger encroachment requires their lone powers. It’s an enormously gifted concept — no quip intended — with a election voice cast. Who else but Seth Rogen could perform a fetching blue blob named B.O.B., who always has a beam on his gelatinous face? Will Arnett essentially revives his hilariously cocky-but-clueless “Arrested Development” character, Gob Bluth II, as the half-fish, half-ape Missing Link, and Hugh Laurie lends his heavy option to the British maniacal scientist Dr. Cockroach.
Just considering the words “And Stephen Colbert as The President” during the crack titles is fitting for a laugh, especially given the comic’s faux go for The White House from his stamping-ground condition of South Carolina. Film facts “Monsters vs. Aliens,” a DreamWorks Animation release, is rated PG for sci-fi action, some primitive humor and peaceable language. Running time: 94 minutes. The cover opened March 27 at the AMC Houma Palace 10, 5737 W. Park Ave., Houma.
For showings and ticket prices, notice 1-888-AMC-4FUN or by www.movietickets.com or www.fandango.com. Two and a half stars out of four.
And the laughs jail coming steadily from there. Directors Rob Letterman (“Shark Tale”) and Conrad Vernon (“Shrek 2”), working from a plan from about a half-dozen people, maintains a record force throughout, although the unpredictable turning-point feels high-flown and repetitive. Far more striking is the particular this motley party comes together.
Witherspoon’s Susan is a uncomplicated female from Modesto, Calif., who’s about to fit together hoity-toity TV weatherman Derek (Paul Rudd). On their allying day, as Susan dreams of honeymooning in Paris and Derek obsesses over an support audition in Fresno, a meteor hits Earth, exposing Susan to galactic gloop that turns her into a mammoth with a revolt of whitish hair. (And as she grows, her merger gown rips and clings to her in inviting ways — but there’s nothing too tart here on any level. “Monsters vs.
Aliens” is decidedly PG, with any vestiges of animosity softened for the profit of family-friendly comedy. It could have reach-me-down a suggestion more edge.) The military, led by Gen. W.R. Monger (Kiefer Sutherland), scoops her up and sticks her in a holding cubicle along with B.O.B., Link, Dr. Cockroach and a goofy, 350-foot affliction named Insectosaurus. (Their back stories, rendered in survey blur clips, are a unerring nostalgic touch.) They also rename her Ginormica, which gives her a amour propre push up when she needs it most.
An immigrant attack, led by the mega-lomaniacal Galaxhar (Rainn Wilson), forces the monsters into the streets of San Francisco. A moment of truth between Susan and Galaxhar’s drill weapon, a clunky retro robot, is delightfully particularized as it causes the windows on downtown service buildings to rumble and shatter. Greater thrills come when the monsters set-to the cat's-paw on the Golden Gate Bridge in an old-school, B-movie battle.
While on the ball and colorful, the three-dimensional junk in these situations never actually inspirit a faculty of awe. Rather, they give a material quickness of strength but be taken succinct of categorically immersing you. The movie’s also playing in IMAX 3-D — c peradventure that’s a more satisfactory sensory experience, one that makes you characterize oneself as as if you surely are on another planet.
Christy Lemire is a pic critic with The Associated Press.
Video:
