Not just another summer blockbuster

This DreamWorks’ sci-fi action, animation fantasy, is written by Maya Forbes, Wallace Wolodarsky, Jonathan Aibel, Glenn Berger and Letterman.

The combo story that borrows elements from Monsters Inc, Attack of the 50 ft woman, Aliens and references characters from horror classics, has Reese Witherspoon as Susan Murphy who gets clobbered by a meteor gunk and suddenly finds herself 49 feet 11 inches tall.

Her family, friends and soon-to-be husband Derek Dietl (Paul Rudd) find Susan (now Ginormica) too tall to handle and the government rushes in to take her to their covert monsters facility.

Her fellow inmates include Dr Cockroach, PhD (Hugh Laurie), the Missing Link, a half ape-half fish (Will Arnett), a gelatinous blob called B.O.B (Seth Rogen) and a 350 foot huge Insectosaurus. To their surprise an alien ship lands on earth and the monsters are released in order to defend earth from the alien Gallaxhar’s (Rainn Wilson) invasion.

The story may be implausible, but the treatment and technique makes up for it. Rob Letterman and Conrad Vernon manage to create a colourful world of animated people, monsters and aliens with a style and verve that is reminiscent of the best works ever made in digimation.

The visuals are dramatically colour coded and the characters are almost life-like. Their expressiveness and flexibility are wonders to behold. When you see Susan or Ginormica in animation mold, there’s no doubt in your mind that she is none other than Reese Witherspoon. The same holds true for Seth Rogen.

The film has a cracking pace and some crackling humour. The slapstick is engaging, the dialogues have subtle nuances that are witty and entertaining and the voicing is highly effective. The president’s gaffes and his idiotic antics when confronted by the alien power are entertaining because one can easily draw parallels to a recently dethroned president in real life.

The animation quality is excellent and the visual effects are entrancing,  if not spectacular. This is a film made to entertain and it does so with great skill and vivacity!

Monsters Vs Aliens
Cast: Will Arnett, Paul Rudd, Seth Rogen, Hugh Laurie, Reese Witherspoon, Rainn Wilson, Kiefer Sutherland, Stephen Colbert
Director: Rob Letterman, Conrad Vernon
Rating: ***