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Review #12: Monsters vs. Aliens

Alright lets not dwell on the fact that I haven't posted in months, my laptop died, I lost my internet, a friend got kicked out of his house and had to live with me: I've been busy. Lets just move on.

I'm trying to perfect a reviewing style that is quick because I often find myself dwelling over my words; which is one of the reasons why my reviews take ages.

Dreamworks' Monsters vs Aliens pays homage to B-movie classics such as "The Blob", "Attack of the 50ft Woman", "The Fly" and "The Creature from the Black Lagoon" by taking these movies principal characters and having them fight aliens. Its that simple and its really good fun.

Most of this enjoyment comes from the script, there is non-stop gags throughout, whether its the many references to other sci-fi features (code nemoy, for instance) or if its the voice work of the cast. Reese Wetherspoon is warm, sweet and lovely as Susan/Ginormica: "I want a real kitten, hanging from a real tree" but shes no damsel, going from pushover to world saver by the time the credits role. Hugh Laurie is also on form as mad Dr. Cockroach, "My P.h.D is in dance!" while Paul Rudd is easy to hate as Susans slimy douche of a boyfriend. Kudos must also go to Rainn Wilson as the meglomaniac Gallaxhar. Although I'm a little annoyed Seth Rogen is again in a Dreamworks feature he is still enjoyable as B.O.B. and that Keifer Sutherland rehashes his voice from Futurama as Genreal Warren R. Monger he does have his moments.

The animation too is pretty spectacular with an epic opening sequence and a show stealing battle on the golden gate bridge. Despite the animation being fantastic there doesn't seem to be any need for the 3-D, with it only making little appearances in the form of obvious cliches (such as a guy using a paddleball).

Similarly the ending doesn't leave you as fulfilled as Dreamworks' previous efforts, and its quite apperant that the story had been stretched as far as it can go by the end. Saying that Monsters vs Aliens is still a solid, humourous entry into Dreamworks' filmography

4.

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