“Monsters Vs. Aliens” follows the exact sandwich construction of many a Dreamworks production: Lots of sight gags piled on top of film spoofs piled on sight sags, with the story as garnish.
It is funny, and the animation is delightful (dig the fur!), but I spent more time guessing the famous voices (Rainn Wilson!!) of the moment than taking any real interest in what was happening on screen. Two days later, I had to IMDB the film to make sure it wasn’t called “Aliens Vs. Monsters.” It’s that memorable.
Here, a bride (Reeese Witherspoon) is struck by a meteor on her wedding day and grows large, Large, LARGE before her fiancé and family. Now a freak -- a monster -- she is captured by Uncle Sam and tossed into a Monster Mash military prison with a glob, a talking man-sized insect and a lizard dude from the Black Lagoon. Enter the aliens (Wilson is the leader), cue the hero Monsters, and we have ourselves a story idea. Add in a “Close Encounters” music gag, and we have a film.
In a stellar year for animation (I love “Coraline,” and “Up” is another Pixar gem) being funny and well-animated no longer cuts it. Not unless it’s Saturday morning TV. Watching most any Dreamworks film (not all) is now akin to watching a child drag his plastic chair to the adults table for dinner. Even if he can look everyone in the eye, he still can’t keep up with the conversation. B-
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