Monsters vs. Aliens: Movie Review (2009)

Directed by Bob Letterman and Conrad Vernon, written by Maya Forbes, Wally Wolodarsky, Letterman, Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger, 94 minutes, rated PG

All the great animation and swell 3-D effects in the world can't save a movie if it’s sandbagged by an uninspired storyline that nods broadly at a wealth of better-known films. That’s the case with Bob Letterman and Conrad Vernon’s “Monsters vs. Aliens,” and the results are mixed.

In spite of having all the tense promise nestled within its inspired title, the movie is so benign, it might as well be called “Puppies vs. Kittens.”

From its opening moments, it’s easy to be wowed by the advances in 3-D technology--it’s amazing to behold, more seamless now than ever. But like any movie focused purely on fueling such a gimmick, the technology becomes just windowdressing if there isn’t anything there to bolster it up.

That’s the case here. Five writers wrote the script, which suggests that “Monsters vs. Aliens” has been test-marketed by those writers so many times, they succeeded in stripping any trace of originality out of it.

Throughout, the cinematic echoes are obvious--“Men in Black,” “Attack of the 50 Foot Woman,” “Cloverfield,” “Dr. Strangelove” and especially “Monsters, Inc.,” among others. Glued and pieced together with a host of new characters, the film leaves audiences with a good-looking movie comprised of parts that are so familiar, they court the benign.

The film’s focus is Susan (voice of Reese Witherspoon), who is struck by a meteorite on her wedding day and takes to the church with the sort of glow that goes beyond mere happiness. Susan is glowing green and soon she literally is growing large, bursting through the church roof and terrorizing plenty even though she wants to harm no one.

Within moments, the government is involved (cue the “Men in Black” references!), and they take Susan to a test facility where other monsters are held. Things is, like Susan, none of these oddities are harmful (cue the “Monsters, Inc.” references!). They’re just misunderstood creatures in a movie that eventually employs them in an effort to save the world when aliens attack the planet.

Who do you think wins that battle? If you don’t know, you’re likely 5, can’t read yet, and so this movie might appeal to you. But with the exception of a few clever scenes and Seth Rogen as a likeable blob named Bob, “Monsters vs. Aliens” doesn’t leave the mark its title promises.

Grade: C

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