|
Monsters Vs. Aliens
|
MPAA Rating: PG
|
|
Entertainment: +3
|
|
Content: +2
|
|
|
 |
|
Voices of: Reese Witherspoon, Hugh Laurie, Seth Rogen, Will Arnett, Rainn Wilson, Steven Colbert. Animated sci-fi comedy. Directed by Conrad Vernon, Rob Letterman.
FILM SYNOPSIS: Susan Murphy (Reese Witherspoon)—a.k.a. Ginormica, having been clobbered with a meteor full of outer space gunk, finds herself growing to 49-feet-11-inches tall. To make things worse, she suddenly finds herself trying to evade an invading alien determined to destroy her and this planet Earth. The animation department at DreamWorks reinvents the classic ‘50s monster movie Attack of the 50-Foot Woman into an irreverent modern-day action comedy. It will be shown in 3-D in some theaters, while in the regular format at others. (Check your theater listings – might as well see it in 3-D.)
PREVIEW REVIEW: Creative, witty and exciting, it’s a pleasure for the whole family. Well, most of the whole family. You see, there’s a reason why it’s rated PG and not G. By now, you’d think most parents of tiny tots would be more circumspect about taking three- and four-year-olds to action movies, even if they are animated. Make that – especially if they are animated. While most older kids were digging away at their children’s sized popcorn boxes and gulping syrupy soft drinks throughout the action sequences, a few of their younger siblings had to be rushed out of the auditorium, one little girl declaring between shrieks, “I don’t like this movie!”
Now, look, I’m not telling anyone that they’re stupid if they bring toddlers to action-oriented movies featuring monsters and aliens with a bent for destruction. It can be said that upon occasion I have been dumber than a bagful of hammers. So, I have no right to cast aspersions upon those who think a night at the movies will be more fun, or cheaper, if they tug along those who still can’t manipulate a tricycle. But silly me, I’m thinking when I hear a kid screaming at the top of her lungs, maybe she would have preferred staying home with Grandma. Or the teenager across the street. Or even Freddy Krueger.
Read the content, then decide if little Suzy is ready for a night at the movies. The theater management thanks you. The patrons thank you. And I thank you.
Preview Reviewer: Phil Boatwright
Distributor: DreamWorks
|
Summary
The following categories contain objective listings of film content which contribute to the subjective numeric Content ratings posted to the left and on the Home page.
Crude Language: There are a couple of very minor innuendos, slight off-color remarks that will go over the heads of little ones, while bringing a smirk to oldsters who like a little bawdiness with their animated monsters-verses-aliens cartoons.
Obscene Language: None.
Profanity: Rather than using the now common phrase “oh my God,” one of the creatures merely utters the initials “O-M-G”; I don’t think our Heavenly Father would be upset over that, but as I said, the phrase is becoming overly used in movies of all genres,- and the Bible does have something to say about reverencing the Almighty.
Violence: Animated action has the benign earthly monsters in constant danger from the four-eyed destructive aliens; the leads are chased and nearly destroyed in every conceivable manner; two children began crying when the lead young woman was hit by what appeared to be an asteroid, then during her wedding ceremony, she begins to grow until she destroys the church; during this action, there is a great deal of screaming; the military captures her, considering her to now be a monster due to her abnormal size; during this struggle she is tranquilized with a huge dart and tied down to the ground; none of the creatures is overly scary, thanks to the accompanying humor, but the chase scenes and the screaming seemed to disturb little ones.
Sex: None.
Nudity: None, except for a brief shot where a government agent gives his thumb print to enter a private area – along with an elbow print, a nose print, and yes, a bottom print – from the side we see him sitting on what looks like a copying machine; the lead outgrows her wedding dress, until she is left in brief rags; soon afterwards she has been dressed in regular clothes – just giant sized.
Sexual Dialogue/Gesture: None.
Drugs: None.
Other: None.
Running Time: 95 minutes
Intended Audience: Most of the family
Click HERE for a PRINTER-FRIENDLY version of this review.
|
