Monsters vs. Aliens 3D Review

The rise of 3D movies is quickly becoming the new "thing" for movies, particularly those aimed at kids and tween audiences. There are at least 10 more 3D movies set to be released this year, and I've already seen three of them: My Bloody Valentine 3D (it was free), Coraline, and now Monsters vs. Aliens.

Since we're entering this new craze, it seems fitting that one of the biggest movies to use the technology is an homage to the classic monster movies of the 1950s, another era that saw a huge surge in the use of 3D technology.

We first meet Susan early in the morning on her wedding day. She's getting ready to marry Derek, a local weather reporter in Modesto, CA. Derek's got big plans to move up the anchor ranks through Fresno, Milwaukee, and eventually New York City and he's looking forward to how nicely his wife will support him in his endeavors, never overshadowing him or his accomplishments.

Immediately before the wedding, a mysterious meteorite lands right on Susan. She amazingly seems fine at first, but as she takes her vows, she begins to glow a weird blue color and she begins to grow...and grow...and grow. The government shows up and the next thing Susan knows she's in a government facility for monsters. She's been renamed Ginormica and her new companions are an indestructible mass of goo named B.O.B., the Missing Link, a scientist who accidentally turned himself into a cockroach, and Insectosaurus.

Susan is devastated about the turn her life has taken, but she doesn't have much time to dwell. A hostile alien is attacking Earth and is actually after the substance that Susan absorbed from the meteorite. Now Susan not only has to help herself, she has to save the whole planet!

There's nothing groundbreaking about this movie. There's no real overarching message about humanity like in Wall-E, there's no amazingly fantastical jaunt through a kid's imagination like in Coraline. But what you do get for the price of admission is a cute, fun, and funny movie with dazzling visuals and effects. There are also a ton of references for the pop culture geek grown-ups: Dr. Strangelove and Close Encounters of the Third Kind are heavily tapped for jokes and the results are delightful.

You won't have a life-changing experience at Monsters vs. Aliens, but you will have lots of fun. 

Comments

[daisybones]

I totally read some feminist themes into Susan's character. But... I do that:) I adored it. It was fun & sweet & you gotta love a movie that gives a 3 year old AND a 33 year old that much squee.

[Kymmi]

I was only so-so on this movie - but that may have been because I saw it w/out the 3-D. I was too cheap to pay an extra $3.50 per ticket for the 'service charge' to know if it was worth it.

Now Coraline I'm dying to see. But my 5 year old is a bit young for it so I need a break from her to do it.