Monsters vs. Aliens (2009) User Reviews

A pleasant surprise

[Apemangalore · 7/10 · 27 March 2009]

Let's get this out of the way first: I'm not a huge fan of DreamWorks Animation. Usually consisting of nothing more than unfunny pop culture gags, I think the majority of their films are mediocre at best, with the only ones that I really enjoyed being the first Shrek and Kung Fu Panda. The trailers for Monsters vs. Aliens did get me interested, though, and the voice cast seemed pretty impressive. Even so, I was still fairly skeptical about how it would finally turn out. Now, having seen the film, I have to say that I was very pleasantly surprised.

There isn't a whole lot in the way of story and character development, but suffice it to say, it serves its purpose. What makes Monsters vs. Aliens such an enjoyable film is how it works as a comedy. The pop culture references are still present, but I found them to be more clever and funny this time around, and in much smaller amounts. I was smiling through virtually the entire film, and had about 5 or 6 hard laugh-out-loud moments throughout. As expected, I was also very impressed by the voice cast in this movie. Hugh Laurie does a fantastic job as the voice of the sophisticated (though mildly insane) Dr. Cockroach, and most of the laughs are generated by Seth Rogen's performance as B.O.B.. Even Reese Witherspoon helps you feel some sympathy for her character near the beginning of the film, and Stephen Colbert does a surprisingly solid job as President Hathaway.

The 3D, while not used as effectively as it was in Coraline, is still one of the more impressive showcasings that I've seen, and that's largely due to the film's incredible action sequences. Seriously, this is some of the best action that I've seen in an animated film; as far as I'm concerned, it's right up there with that of The Incredibles.

Overall, I found Monsters vs. Aliens to be a surprisingly entertaining film, with clever and witty dialogue, as well as terrific action. I'm not usually in favor of sequels, but if they're able to keep it as balanced and charming, I would honestly like to see this become a successful, long-running franchise. Nice job, folks at DreamWorks Animation.

A little underwhelming, but still good fun.

[johnnymacbest · 7/10 · 6 April 2009]

Okay, I'll admit I'm not big on CG movies as I always find 2D animation much more convincing and involving but I had a good time with this (along with a some relatives) and it's a pretty cool movie. However, I kinda felt a little underwhelmed; the story is good, but there's just wasn't enough substance along with the characters and action. I just felt it needed more. But it's a treat to see all the nods to '50s classic era of films that Monsters Vs Aliens pays homage to along with some good messages about being true to yourself and looking beyond one's appearance in order to know someone. Seeing the film with 3D glasses was a cool idea but in my view, 2D will suffice but still, it's good family entertainment for an afternoon. Hopefully the next film will have more ooomph, more "Monstrosity".

Entertaining and surprisingly, maybe more for grown ups than kids

[vithiet · 7/10 · 30 December 2018]

It might not be the best but it's definitely one of the funniest Dreamworks animated films in my opinion as many jokes seem a bit more for grown ups rather than kids. I also found it quite entertaining overall.

Nice team chemistry

[SnoopyStyle · 7/10 · 31 October 2013]

Susan Murphy (Reese Witherspoon) is a woman who got upsized by a meteorite on her wedding day. B.O.B. (Seth Rogen) is a gelatinous, brainless creation after an experiment on a tomato went wrong. Dr. Cockroach (Hugh Laurie) is a scientist who turned himself into a hybrid. The Missing Link (Will Arnett) is a creature found frozen and revived. And giant mutant larva Insectosaurus is a product of nuclear testing. The government has secretly collected these monster and now they need them to fight alien Gallaxhar (Rainn Wilson).

DreamWorks has gathered all the iconic 50s sci-fi B-movie creations, and formed a pretty cohesive team. It's surprising that the limited backstory allowed the characters to gel so well right off the bat. It's probably due the fact that these characters seem so familiar to us. It also helps that the actors do some great voice work.

The story itself has one major problem. The movie is basically split in two parts. The pacing slows down dramatically in the middle after a high intensity fight at the start. However the comedy works well especially the brainless BOB. I think this team has good potential.

Cute and often very funny

[cherold · 7/10 · 13 January 2011]

After a rather slow beginning in which a girl gets proposed to, the movie picks up when she gets turned into a giant on her wedding day and from that on the film is frenetically comic. Like most Dreamworks cartoons, this one can feel like it's trying too hard (Dreamworks has a Looney-Tunes-on-speed approach that can be a little exhausting), but at its best the movie is wildly funny.

The story and characters are admittedly generic, but pleasantly so. But there is a certain annoying laziness to the plotting. The death of one character is treated as sad even though the audience is given no reason to care, and the female empowerment angle is a bit on the silly side. The plot is at a kid's movie level, even though the humor is funniest enough for this adult.

Not a great cartoon, but a very enjoyable one.

Doesn't live up to the promise.

[pberko · 7/10 · 14 March 2009]

When I first heard of Monsters vs. Aliens I literally went giddy. A 50's B-movie revival! Stephen Colbert as the President! Hugh Laurie as a cockroach! I mean, it's called Monsters vs. Aliens!!!

What I got was a mildly good movie. I mean, there were some nice gags in the Strangelove- lite War Room, and some great lines from BOB, but it really left me wanting more. As a whole, the film never got to the comical heights of Shrek, Madagascar, Kung Fu Panda, or even Shrek 2. There are times in the movie where you know that they are going completely random to try and get some laughs, but fail pretty badly.

Besides comedy, the story itself is pretty predictable. From the moment you meet the monsters you know what the moral of the story, and you know pretty much how the whole film will play out.

But it is not a bad film. Not at all. It's good, but not great. What IS great is the 3D. Me, I've never really warmed to 3D, but they use it here in a completely different sense. Monster's vs Alien's 3D is not about shouting "OMG I CAN TOUCH HIS BEARD!!", but more about perspective. And hair. I'm sorry but it's worth seeing just for Ginormica's (Susan's) hair alone.

So basically, it's fun - but not as fun as it should have been. And take it from me: even if you're cynical about 3D; see it in 3D. It's worth the ticket price alone.

DreamWorks can be proud.

[JohnDeSando · 22 March 2009]

The President of the United States (Stephen Colbert): "Boys, set the terror level at code brown, 'cause I need to change my pants."

Monsters vs. Aliens is my first 3-D movie—not really, but it is the first time I have felt the process worked within a film as an integral part of the artistic process. It supports the science fiction, titillates at times, but most of all gives the illusion of reality. DreamWorks can be proud of this addition to the pantheon of excellent contemporary animations (dominated by Pixar) that use its Shrek as a touchstone for memorable characters wedded to mature themes and superior techniques.

Monsters vs. Aliens is also a family film in the truest sense: Elders to tots can enjoy the visual delights of 3-D outer space and observe a young bride-to-be Susan Murphy (voice of Reese Witherspoon) grow by a radiation accident into the heroic role of Ginormica, a woman literally too big for her britches. She must assert her independence from a self-centered fiancé and convince family, friends, and the world that an out-sized woman (read overachieving feminist) has a place in the male world, a superior place at that.

A strength of this sweet film is its use of ironic, sometimes sardonic, language to satirize just about everyone, from the president (see the opening quotation, not great humor but entertaining) to the makers of Close Encounters of the Third Kind, whose feel good '70's glow is ripe for 21st-century cynicism, to memories of such chestnuts as The Blob and The Creature from the Black Lagoon.

The hip,loving mood of the film is exemplified by the alien's proclamation at invasion time, "Humans of Earth, my quest has led me to your planet. Give it to me now! You should, in no way, take any of this personally. It's just business."

Wonderful summertime treat (even though it's still spring) ...

[Vic_max · 7/10 · 30 March 2009]

If you're going to see this movie, make sure it's the 3D version - not all showings are in 3D. If you have the opportunity to see it in IMAX - it's definitely a 'bigger' treat ... but FWIW, know this: it was "converted" to IMAX from normal print - not created in the IMAX format.

OK - that said, the movie IS worth seeing. I'd say it was somewhere between "really good" and great. It's a fun story with fast pacing, entertaining characters and nice 3D effects.

It's basically about a group of 5 likable "monsters" that are pitted up against an alien attack. The main character is a new "monster" - Ginormica. She's a young lady that was recently hit by a meteorite with a special composition ... one that made her grow to gigantic size.

It's a fun story told in an imaginative way. The visuals are very nicely done - the backgrounds, characters and scope of detail are great. The movie also moves along at brisk pace - something that grabs your attention is always happening (this makes it work well for kids in the audience). Add to that the fun and oddball personalities of the monster characters and you have a winning combination.

The 3D effects were good, although like most other mainstream animated movies - they start out strong and then get recessed into background. Still - make sure you see it in 3D! You'll be missing part of the key experience offered by the movie if you don't.

All in all, this is a fun movie for adults as well as kids. It's kind of a summer movie that you get to watch in the spring. Grab some popcorn and check out this flick!

Pretty Innocent, And Fun To Watch

[ccthemovieman-1 · 9/10 · 5 October 2009]

This was a pleasant surprise: a nice, feel-good film that is pretty innocent and sports the usual beautiful Dreamworks art. The artwork and colors are magnificent. I say "surprise" because it did not get great reviews. Thus, I wasn't expecting the quality film I got.

The good guys - the "monsters" are typically-likable as you see in other animated films of today. They are pretty funny, too, diverse "monsters" like "Dr. Cockroach, B.O.B and The Missing Link. They, along with "Ginormica," who does her impression of the 1950s sci-fi character, "The F-Foot Woman," are appealing and fun to watch.

I'm tempted to describe this movie as "innocent," because it's such a nice story that doesn't have all the innuendos some other animated films have, yet still will make most adults laugh in many spots because there is some good humor that kids wouldn't get. "Monsters Versus Aliens" shows one doesn't need "edginess" in every movie to have adults enjoy the kids' film, too.

Chances are you'll find this movie a lot better than you thought. Give it a shot.

This film works primarily because the female is the heroine which doesn't happen too often in films and in animation

[jordondave-28085 · 7/10 · 7 June 2023]

(2009) Monsters Vs. Aliens COMPUTER ANIMATED/ FAMILY

Basically it's a 'monsters taking on aliens' not 'humans vs aliens' slowed by a very long 30 minute introduction made almost similar to Pixar's "The Incredibles" except these characters are almost to the point of uninteresting. The plot has Susan (voice of Reese Witherspoon) whose just about to embark on marrying to a self absorbed duffous who conveniently gets struck by a flying meteor empowering her to become extremely large in size before being labelled as a "monster". She gets put away to some secret gov't facility with other uninteresting 'monsters' (voiced by Seth Rogen and Hugh Laurie of the popular show "House") but consist of super abilities and they eventually coincide against the attackers of earth. Mature viewers don't know if it could've happened to anybody else or does it just happen to Susan- we'll never know nor does it address Susan's bathroom/ hygiene issues since she's still a human but just a giant in size. Aforementioned, if viewers can get past the long introduction, this film may work as a female as the heroine which doesn't happen too often in films and in animation.

"Monsters vs. Aliens" Review: An Entertaining Crossover Adventure

[seruanyre · 8/10 · 29 January 2023]

Firstly, "Monsters vs. Aliens" introduces a quirky and diverse cast of characters, including a ginormous woman, a mad scientist, and a blobby creature. Each one is brought to life with lovable personalities and witty humor that appeals to both kids and adults.

Secondly, the animation is top-notch and visually stunning, creating a world that's filled with imagination and fun. The action scenes are well-executed, featuring inventive and exciting battles between the monsters and aliens.

Afterwards, the film also offers a charming storyline, exploring themes of friendship, teamwork, and self-acceptance. The characters learn to embrace their differences and work together to save the world, creating an uplifting message for audiences.

Next, the film's soundtrack, featuring classic rock and pop songs, perfectly sets the tone for each scene, making it all the more enjoyable.

Finally, "Monsters vs. Aliens" is a fun and entertaining adventure that will have you laughing, cheering, and smiling from start to finish. It's a great choice for families and anyone in the mood for a lighthearted and enjoyable film experience.

The tagline of this movie should be "Eh..."

[arc_a2007 · 4/10 · 7 April 2009]

Because that's exactly what you get. Monsters vs. Aliens isn't a TERRIBLE movie, but it's not very good either. The plot is predictable. That's something that you should expect from movies of this type. But a certain other animation studio (I think you know the one) makes the journey itself so enjoyable, and the scope of adventure so vast that it doesn't matter. Monsters vs. Aliens feels at times like a bunch of action scenes strung together by completely unfunny jokes. There's also a message of female independence here, one that gives the film a chick-flick flair. If that sounds bad, stick around. It gets worse.

This movie is just not funny. It spouts pop culture references (a dirty habit of Dreamworks animation), one of which is embarrassing to watch even by oneself. The action scenes are... well, they're Incredibles-ish. At least they try to be. They attempt to be frantic and energetic, but it doesn't really turn out that way. The movie reaches its absolute lowpoint when we're supposed to mourn a character who's come off like one big joke the whole film. This eye-rolling moments leaves us wondering why we should care.

But it's not all bad. In one particular scene, the main character Susan gets imprisoned. What happens next is surprising and exciting. You just don't expect that to happen. The celebrity presence in a Dreamworks film is always a certainty. They always put flash-in-the-pan idiots in lead roles. But in their defense, at least Hugh Laurie is subdued. You don't know that it's him, and that's something these big personalities should learn to make a convincing role. Still, Monsters vs. Aliens is quite mediocre. We know where it's going within ten minutes of the film and the rest is fleshed out by action scenes and dumbed-down comedy.

Great Animated Film. Don't listen to the naysayers.

[LOQUE9 · 23 July 2010]

I honestly don't know what some of these people who've reviewed this film were expecting.

Sure, it's called "Monsters Vs. Aliens." No, that DOES NOT mean that it HAS to be about five thousand monsters fighting five thousand aliens. You people watch too much Predator vs. Aliens.

What this was was a story about one girl, what happens to her and the challenges she faces.

And it's funny. Very funny, in an adult, dry and quirky way. It's not trying to be generic, which seems to be what some reviewers want. It's not trying to be a spectacle, like other reviewers expected it to be.

It's a well told comedy about this girl Susan.

My three year old has seen this movie somewhere in the range of 40 times. I've had to sit through it at least half of that and, quite honestly, it doesn't grow old for me like A Bug's Life or something in that vein might.

Too many people with too specific expectations - and no concept of what's good. Must be why Transformers made so much money.

Good, not great (unless you see it in 3D)

[kentro21 · 7/10 · 5 March 2009]

Monster versus Aliens is a sometimes funny and sometimes interesting, but mostly the story is dull and the plot is nearly a non-entity.

However, this movie does take 3D to a new level at times. There's really only one obvious 3D "gag" very early in the movie, but other than that, you are just in awe of seeing these animated characters truly come to life like never before.

The character that steals the show is of course BOB (voiced by Seth Rogen) He is incredibly dumb but also fantastically funny and the most interesting of all the monsters.

The main character Susan (Reese Witherspoon) has this whole back story, but really we never care about it. Much of her story is just recycled from 100 movies that have come before and very predictable.

Still, the action and the 3D are top notch and this is a movie definitely worth seeing if you can see it in the 3D form. In 2D, I only give it a very lukewarm recommendation.

Fluff, but fun fluff

[YourFamilyExpert · 7/10 · 17 January 2017]

Monsters vs. Aliens is a family-friendly Dreamworks Animation feature which pits classic sci-fi monsters vs. space aliens, in a 1950's B-movie style showdown with modern humor and the visual flair available through today's computer effects. For a special treat, the film is also available in 3D.

The story is simple. A meteor crashes on Earth, or more specifically, onto bride-to-be Susan Murphy. Some substance from the meteor causes her to grow to 50 feet in height. She is hidden by the government with other monsters (based loosely on The Creature From the Black Lagoon, The Blob, The Fly, and various Godzilla foes), until space aliens arrive, bent on world domination. Outmatched by the alien's technology, the U.S. government calls on the monsters to save humanity from annihilation.

All of this is done with a light and fun air, with nothing taken too seriously. Like the best of recent animated features, Monsters vs. Aliens is as enjoyable for adults as for children, thanks in large part to a constant barrage of jokes and a stellar voice cast. Reese Witherspoon is wonderful as Susan Murphy, while 24's Kiefer Sutherland gets a rare chance to flex his comedic muscle as backwoods general W.R. Monger.

The Office's Rain Wilson is fine as Galaxar (the evil alien), as is Arrested Development's Will Arnett as The Missing Link and House's Hugh Laurie as Dr. Cockroach. Popular political comedian Stephen Colbert, in an inspired casting choice, plays the President of the United States. Hands down the best character, in my opinion, is Seth Rogen's B.O.B, a gelatinous creature who is blissfully stupid and eats anything in his path. The character design is fantastic, and the film is a visual treat. Monsters vs. Aliens comes recommended to people of all ages.

Good, but not quite as good as expected.

[jhmocha · 6/10 · 2 April 2009]

Monsters Vs. Aliens has some really funny moments, but by the time you get to see them on the big screen you've already seen them plenty of times on the small one. So there's not too much left to offer by buying a ticket. I thought the 3D was OK. They have a couple of moments specifically designed around flexing the 3d capabilities, but again nothing mind-blowing.

The story revolves around the gigantic Susan (Reese Witherspoon) while pushing all the more interesting characters out of the spotlight. Susan is someone we've all seen in movies before. The victim of an unfortunate mishap leading her down a path she would rather not go down. So the plot follows the same course from there, feels pretty routine. Focusing more on the three other monsters would have made this a better movie. They're much more interesting and only get a small handful of moments to shine throughout the picture.

That was probably the biggest letdown. Having some great comedic potential in the characters voiced by Hugh Laurie, and Will Arnett take a back seat ride. No complaints about Seth Rogen's B.O.B. though, he was great. Kiefer Sutherland was surprisingly good as the General. I underestimated his vocal range.

Finally they made a big deal about Stephen Colbert playing the President, and there wasn't enough of him. All of his funny moments, except for the scene after some of the credits, saturated the coming attractions and commercials. I would have liked to see more of his character.

Overall, its enjoyable. I like to see elements of classic old genres (like the classic monster movies of the 50's and 60's) brought to life in modern day CGI. I just thought this movie had more up its sleeve than it was showing me.

Great fun for everyone!

[minecraftnew-47820 · 10/10 · 12 September 2023]

This is the funniest movie ever made, what some see as plotless fluff, I recognize as simple greatness, funny characters and great one liners keep you entertained the entire runtime. It's a personal favorite for so many reasons, regardless of its potential flaws. I loved Seth Rogen as the blob and the president scene is comedy perfection, I think people need to stop expecting a ground breaking sci fi adventure on par with close encounters of the 3rd kind and with the animation quality of incredibles, this a fun and entertaining film that deserves to be appreciated, I do believe it is a great comedy.

Not a classic, but should be Remembered

[shadowblam · 7/10 · 12 March 2023]

Monsters vs. Aliens isn't a certified classic of an animated film, but it's actually really fun and should be remembered for a number of reasons.

While there are a bunch of jokes that fall flat, scenes that can come off as underwhelming, and can often be predictable and forgettable, it's still a movie that deserves to be remembered today.

It doesn't quite hit the parody status they were hoping to achieve, it's still a good movie, with every character being memorable and fun in their own unique ways, from Susan Murphy/Ginormica as the main protagonist, to B. O. B. The Seth Rogen blob, and even to Gallaxhar the alien along with his giant army of Robot Probes. In fact I loved this film so much that I had even bought a toy of the Robot Probe that was $100, and it's actually pretty worth it if I'm being honest!

So please, give Monsters vs Aliens at least one watch, you won't be disappointed! :)

Nothing new here

[Digory · 4/10 · 23 May 2009]

Just because there are monsters and aliens in this film (which are CGI) doesn't give any assurance of a good film. What happened here was that they were too dependent on the concept of monsters and aliens that they gave little attention to the story. Development was limited to 4 not-so-interesting characters and the theme was very common (friendship, teamwork, etc.). A positive theme but they can always think of another, even better, one. Other animated movies seem to do it well.

The characters I really liked only made an appearance in the first half of the movie, the other half focused on the friendship the "monsters" were starting to have. A waste of a good idea.

Maybe kids will enjoy this generic CGI film, but even my siblings (ages 6, 10, and 13) didn't like this movie. It was forgettable.

3D IMAX version - Amazing!!! One small point of contention!

[inyourimage · 7/10 · 27 March 2009]

As far as the artistry and imagery, I was wowed let me tell you! And the plot was even great on the surface! As a mindless 'Overcoming the Monster' plot, it was superb. But...and this is a BIG but...if I see one more movie that portrays the woman as the selfless leading alpha-hero overcoming men and saving the day, and the men as (a) selfish egotists victimizing the poor hapless female, or (b) as a bunch of bumbling idiots following a woman's lead, I think I am seriously going to boycott this society. This seems to be an alarming trend in popular culture that I could really get on a soapbox about, but I'm not. At least not nearly as much as I'd like. The part that really bothers me is that men seem completely complacent in it. Completely unconscious! It would be against my conscience not to at least mention it. This is a pattern, not an anomaly. However, if you are not one to care about underlying ethical concerns such as the subtle systematic emasculation and/or vilification of men, this is a really great movie! It was one big thrill ride that really put me in awe of the creative ability of the human race.

Nice, clean, smart fun

[TheLittleSongbird · 8/10 · 13 January 2011]

As far as Dreamworks movies go, it is not as good as How to Train Your Dragon, Prince of Egypt and Shrek, but for me Monsters vs. Aliens is one of their better efforts. True, the story is predictable and there isn't much character development. That said, the animation is beautiful, with well modelled characters and bold bright colours and backgrounds. Not to mention the battle on the Golden Gate bridge, which was stunning. The writing is also very funny and smart, the references to Close Encounters, ET and Men in Black are clever, the music is fun and the characters while not having much development are likable and charming. The voice acting is also solid and fit their characters well, Reese Witherspoon is a nice surprise and Hugh Laurie especially is fun. All in all, very good fun, not a classic, but enjoyable family entertainment. 8/10 Bethany Cox

Å Nutshell Review: Monsters vs Aliens

[DICK STEEL · 4/10 · 17 May 2009]

I'm beginning to wonder whether the 3D novelty is wearing out already, especially if slapped on films that think the beauty of visual effects and animation take precedence over a solid story. Everything here worked to a perfect T, from the very key component of animation, to voice casting, and sound, but what the film ultimately lacked, was a compelling narrative, and soul.

The premise for success is all there, and as seen in the trailer, there's a pretty good balance of comedy, action, and homage to the 50s and 60s horror and sci-fi genres. But as the adage goes, too many cooks, in this case, screenplay writers (5 of them no less) will spoil the broth, and as a result, the trailer contains the best bits from within the movie, and everything else just plain boring, which to me too is a surprise.

Directed by Rob Letterman and Conrad Vernon who brought us Shark Tale and Shrek 2 respectively, you would have thought that the combination of their strengths would result in one heck of an entertaining ride, not. It's about time animated films pull a stop to lampooning all that's pop culture. Sure it's funny for a while, but it gets on your nerves pretty much faster than you can roll your eyes at the next joke from the same joke book.

While the film has plenty of monsters and well, just one alien and a giant robot which form the adversarial core, it's not about teamwork but the celebration of the strength of individuality. It's the story of a wistful bride Susan (voiced by Reese Witherspoon) whose only goal in life is to go to Paris with her husband-to-be Derek (Paul Rudd), a news weatherman whom you know is actually the jerk that he is. Cue huge falling debris onto Susan on her wedding day, and she becomes Ginormica, captured by General W.R. Monger (Kiefer Sutherland) who puts her in a top-secret pet "zoo" of sorts with his other trophies Insectosaurous, Dr. Cockroach Ph.D. (Hugh Laurie), a merman creature known as The Missing Link (Will Arnet) and the crowd favourite, the nonsensical B.O.B (Seth Rogen), a blob of jello goo with no brain who serves as the punching bag and the source of all things funny here.

Speaking of funny, the laughs unfortunately don't come hard and fast. Attempts are made to be funny from the get go, but more often than not the effort fell flat on its face. It tried to emulate the Zucker brothers style of slapstick wit, and to a certain degree, when it worked it worked wonders, but you can sense an audience disconnect here when everyone fell silent most of the time. Even kids aren't tickled by the usual juvenile antics of the characters anymore, which now calls for a shift in sophistication.

A whole host of stars join the lineup, such as Rainn Wilson as the villainous alien Gallaxhar, Stephen Colbert as the dim-witted President Hathaway, Amy Poehler as a computer voice and even Renee Zellweger, but despite the star power going all round in flesh out the carefully designed and crafted animated characters, ultimately everyone was one-dimensional and playing to their stereotypical tendencies. 3D-wise, there are only a handful (pardon the pun) of scenes that are specifically designed with that kind of interaction in mind, otherwise the visuals only provide that depth of view, and nothing much that will make you reach out or duck.

Technically, you cannot fault Monsters vs Aliens. But essentially there's no heart in this film at all, and that proved to be its ultimate downfall that no novelty factor can redeem on its behalf.

Actually, very good

[bernardoarquivo · 10/10 · 31 March 2019]

I was surprised that a big budget animation from Dreamworks with such a good cast had a mere 6,5 rating. And turns out it is unfair because Monsters vs. Aliens is actually pretty good and very enjoyable entertainment. The plot, albeit not exactly original - aliens wanna take over the earth - works out fine because the characters are funny and endearing. Susan/Ginormica is certainly one of the sweetest and most attractive female leading characters in the animated world. The whole movie is a delightful surprise. There is potential for a sequel.

Loved it and recommend it.

A bit stunted but undeniably fun

[Simon_Says_Movies · 7/10 · 26 May 2009]

If there is one movie this year that you would expect bar none to be the most fun this year, then that movie would have to be Monsters Vs. Aliens. Why? An irresistible premise, a massive ensemble comedic cast and boasting three whole dimensions, the latest dreamworks animation kid flick has everything going for it, and yet ultimately the whole endeavor feels strangely stunted; the story seems stunted, the action sequences seem stunted and many of the character arcs seem stunted. Not that much of the above will matter to kids, nor to the adults who go with them, nor did it matter much to me but there are simply so many better films out there (*cough Pixar*) that the bar has been permanently raised to such heights that even mammoth monsters or alien technology cannot reach. Ultimatelty the success of the film lies with the voice cast which includes Reese Witherspoon as Susan (later forcefully renamed Ginormica) Seth Rogen as the blathering B.O.B., House's Hugh laurie as Dr. Coachroach, Will Arnett as The Missing Link, Kiefer Sutherland as the steely General W.R. Monger, Rainn Wilson as the evil alien Gallaxhar and finally Stephen Colbert as the dimwitted President of the U.S. While cute and likable Witherspoon doesn't have quite enough pizazz to pull off voice work and the show is mostly stolen by Rogen, Arnett and Laurie. There is scattered genius throughout Monsters vs Aliens, in the satire of monster movies and alien invasion scenarios and simply with some of the hilarious writing and impeccable delivery. Alas it ultimately feels like the little brother of The Incredibles; lacking the full punch, consistently snappy screenplay and pulse-pounding action that will literally thrill young and old; here young an old will only be amused. The plot is simple and the story progresses at a nice pace, beginning with Susan being struck by a meteorite (that coincidently is sought by Gallaxhar for devious purposes) that causes her to grow to enormous size. Quarantined by the government she is imprisoned with the other aforementioned misfits until general Monger comes up with a proposal; prevent the alien invasion and earn their freedom. Unlike most animated films where a sequel almost always feels forced and is always more disappointing then the first, I actually believe the contrary here. Now that the set-up is complete and the lovable monster team is assembled they can one-up themselves with a full-throttle monster/alien brawl. The series has potential, that much is certain, and the right balance of kid friendly and adult amusing antics are present. All Dreamworks need to do is give the source material that spark that made their other efforts like Shrek and Kung Fu Panda irresistible and ultimately rewarding.

Very Over rated

[aussiestevemarcos · 6/10 · 5 April 2009]

This film had the promise of being really funny with a great line up of talented actors such as Kiefer Sutherland, Seth Rogen, Reese Witherspoon and Hugh Laurie (all talented Actors) and produced by DreamWorks.

Unfortunately the laughs were quite tame and even for mid aged kids they weren't very funny, being more for 4-9 age group. Whether the cause was the script writers strike or the need to push out as many films as possible I was left quite disappointed. This is definitely a wait for DVD film unless you are taking young children to a safe film. This was definitely run of the mill and if you paid for the 3d glasses you are probably now regretting this.