Production company: DreamWorks Animation
Director: Rob Letterman, Conrad Vernon
Cast: Reese Witherspoon, Hugh Laurie, Will Arnett, Seth Rogen, Rainn Wilson, Stephen Colbert, Kiefer Sutherland, Paul Rudd
Rating: PG for sci-fi action, some crude humor and mild language.
By Gregg Tubbs
(UMC.org) Dreamworks new animated comedy, Monsters vs. Aliens, serves as the perfect reminder of why we go to the movies in the first place—they’re fun! This tale of lovable, earthbound monsters battling pompous, invading aliens is escapist entertainment in the best sense—a movie that helps you take a break from the cares of everyday reality and simply be entertained. Films just like this lifted the nation’s spirits during the Great Depression and—who knows—could also be a tonic for these uncertain times. Like the best escapist fare, Monsters vs. Aliens mixes just the right amount of heart and message to make it worthwhile for the whole family.
Susan (voiced by Reese Witherspoon) is a young bride in Modesto, CA, who has enough to worry about on her wedding day. Just before the ceremony begins, Susan is walloped by a glowing green meteorite. Rattled, but unfazed, Susan dusts herself off and marches down the aisle to wed her fiancé Derrick. When Derrick tells her she’s glowing, she takes it as a compliment until she realizes she really is glowing with an unearthly green haze. Then she begins growing at an unbelievable pace, reaching almost 50 feet.
Federal agents quickly whisk Susan away to a secret monster containment center. Renamed “Ginormica” by the media, she meets her new compatriots—a ragtag, but undeniably family-like group of B-movie monsters: Dr. Cockroach (Hugh Laurie), a brilliant half-man, half- insect; The Missing Link (Will Arnett), part-ape, part-fish and all blustery machismo; B.O.B (Seth Rogen) the affable blob of living jelly; and Insectosaurus, a gigantic but infantile grub. The “Monsters,” as they cheerfully call themselves, have been isolated to protect society, even though it’s clear that they are more clumsy than menacing. But society soon finds that they need the help of these special rejects.
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Having been clobbered with a meteor full of outer space gunk, bride-to-be Susan Murphy (Reese Witherspoon) grows to 49-feet-11-inches tall, which causes her guests to flee in terror from her wedding.
Copyright © 2009 Dreamworks.
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Then the haughty intergalactic squid-alien Gallaxar (Rainn Wilson) invades earth, planning to suck out the very same meteor power—quantonium—that fills Susan’s body and turned her into Ginormica. Unable to deal with the threat militarily, the President (Stephen Colbert) and the General (Kieffer Sutherland) release the monsters in a desperate attempt to save the earth. For Susan, the battle is personal. Not only is she fighting to save the earth, but she also knows she is the reason for the invasion. Like it or not, she must embrace her new identity as Ginormica and use her size and incredible strength to save the world with the help of her monster friends.
For kids, Monsters vs. Aliens is a fast-moving romp with clever sight gags, sharp humor, and endearing characters. If you see it in 3D (which I recommend), you also get the added appeal of seamless, eye-popping effects that show just how far 3D has come. For parents of the right age, the movie is a warm-hearted homage to almost every sci-fi film ever made—from the cheesy giant atomic bug movies of the 1950s to Independence Day in 1996. The old movie in-jokes will make you smile and remember your own childhood.
Between the fun and thrills, Monsters vs. Aliens also instills some important lessons and values. The lovable band of monsters exemplify love and compassion and an inclusive sense of family. As they go into battle, the monsters display courage, deep loyalty to one another, and a willingness to sacrifice for the greater good. For instance, Susan willingly passes up the chance to return to “normal” because she knows she can only save her friends as Ginormica.
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This ragtag, but undeniably family-like, group of B-movie monsters save the planet: The Missing Link (Will Arnett), Ginormica (Reese Witherspoon), B.O.B. (Seth Rogen), Insectosaurus and Dr. Cockroach (Hugh Laurie).
Copyright © 2009 Dreamworks.
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Foremost, the film is a parable about self-worth. From the beginning, we learn that Derrick is a self-centered lout. As his wife, Susan plans to devote her life to serving his ego and career. But as Ginormica, she learns that she has worth and a destiny of her own. The monsters themselves undergo a similar transformation. Initially shunned as “rejects” for being different, the monsters become heroes who are celebrated for those very differences. It reminds me of the old saying that “God doesn’t make junk.” Though different and misunderstood, the monsters are creatures of value and worth.
Monsters vs. Aliens is brisk, imaginative, joyous and often fall-down funny entertainment with just enough tricks up its sleeve (especially in 3D) to set itself apart from the pack. The film also has just enough heart and message to give it some substance. Though the film is not a work of genius, it doesn’t have to be. Sometimes all you want is a good, family-friendly “popcorn movie.” And if that’s what you’re looking for, Monsters vs. Aliens hits the spot.
Study Questions
- Have you ever felt you were a misfit like the monsters in the film? Why?
- Do you believe God uses our differences in good ways? Does God want us to all be the same or does God cherish our diversity? (See 1 Corinthians 12:13-21.)
- Susan went through many physical changes during the film. What mental and emotional changes did she go through as well? What did she learn about her own self-worth?
- What clues did we have that Derrick wasn’t as devoted to Susan as she was to him? Was it right for him to expect her to live her life vicariously through his accomplishments?
- Were you surprised that he rejected her when she returned as Ginormica? What impact did this have on her?
- In what ways were the monsters like a family? How did they show their devotion for one another?
- Susan passed up the chance to return to “normal” in order to save her friends. Do you think she made the right choice? Could you have done the same?
- What does the film have to say about intolerance of those who are different? Did the monsters prove that, although they were different, they had worth? Have you ever learned to find new appreciation for someone who at first seemed odd or different?
- Read Psalm 118:22 and Luke 20:17. How does the biblical metaphor of “The stone the guilder rejected” relate to the monsters in the film?
- If you had a “monster name” what would it be? What would it say about you?
Resources
Official Monsters vs. Aliens site
Theatrical Trailer
