Its not too much of a stretch to say most fans of animated films feel a love/hate relationship with Dreamworks. One year you'll be graced with the original "Shrek" and the next you'll get "Shark Tale." In what is essentially Pixar's game, Dreamworks is the runt on the sideline you give the ball to every once and a while just to see what will happen. In the case of Dreamworks' latest, Megamind, they get to the 35 yard line and settle for a field goal.
Megamind (Will Ferrell) is a supervillain turned not-so-super hero. After the assumed death of his arch rival Metro Man (Brad Pitt), Megamind assumes control of Metro City but quickly grows bored and longs for a challenge. In comes the cameraman Hal (Jonah Hill), coworker of reporter and Megamind love interest Roxanne Ritchi (Tina Fey), who gets transformed into a superhero to satisfy Megamind's urge to fight. Megamind disguises himself the as father figure in an homage to Marlon Brando's Jor-El in the original Superman. Minion (David Cross) classily slaps a dress on his robotic body to assume the motherly role. After a great deal of training that ultimately leads nowhere, Megamind focuses his priorities on winning the heart of Roxanne, under the guise of a friendly museum curator Bernard. Its not until Hal (now the semi-superhero Titan) sees Megamind on a date with Roxanne that the action begins. Cheesy fight scene staples AC/DC and Guns n' Roses provide the music for extended action sequences that leave viewers cringing not in brutality but in cliché-riddled skirmishes.
As funny as Will Ferrell is, animation just isn't his thing. Sure his vocal inflections and here-and-there improv are still there, but you don't get the charisma that really sets him apart from any other recognizable voice actor. Remember his Curious George performance?
Didn't think so.
His name is a marquee, an attention grabber, but this medium in particular really constricts his ability to be funny. A theme that many Dreamworks films suffer from can't go unnoticed: draw a story out of a hat, pack films to the brim with stars and pray they make their money back.
Though it must be noted again, David Cross is a talking fish bowl named Minion. This was certainly a highlight of the movie.
A considerable portion of the plot is consumed by a softening of the evil in Megamind's life in pursuit of Roxanne. The originally unassuming villain in Hal/Titan is weak and never does the viewer ever really feel there is anything in jeopardy.
The animation here is nothing special either. With no real eye-popping visuals, the 3D is underwhelming and more of a marketing ploy than anything. Halfway through the film, it gets quite easy to forget the movie is even in 3D, despite the bulky glasses on your face.
As a matter of fact, it wouldn't be a stretch to claim Megamind is this year's Avatar. They have more in common than you might think. Despite the gap in their opening weekend grosses, the films are almost one in the same. They've got computer generated blue people, 3D, unoriginal plot lines, forgettable voice acting, big budgets and so on. That's not to say they can't be enjoyable, but according to the bylaws of the Global Movie Critics with Integrity Association of the World, they aren't allowed to receive stellar reviews. Its the law.
From a child's perspective, there's enough action and low brow humor to keep a kid occupied for an hour and a half. They may even really enjoy it. For an adult, on the other hand, there are better options. If your hunger for original animated superhero movies cannot be contained, you may be better off renting The Incredibles.
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