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Rating: For several months now, the cinemas around the world seem to be inundated with feature films conceived and made specifically for 3D viewing: not only animated films, but also live-action productions that, in order to be fully appreciated, require the viewer to go to the nearest cinema and get the appropriate glasses.
Needless to say, the subliminal message (but not too much...) seems to be more or less: "Dear movie buff with the eye patch and the hook, I can't stop you from downloading this movie. But know that if you watch it at home, lounging on the couch, perhaps with a low-res audio-video file, you're missing out on a lot of the fun..."
Dreamworks, for its part, in the no-holds-barred war among animation production houses, seems to be focusing more and more on the visual aspect of its releases, forgoing any ambition of "depth" and "thematic richness" that, at least in intention, characterize Pixar products.
The result of these two factors is "Monsters vs. Aliens," the first feature film from the studio of the boy fishing on the moon specifically designed for 3D viewing.
And indeed, from a visual standpoint, it's a real feast. Take for example the (perhaps slightly lengthy...) chase scene among the buildings of San Francisco, during which there is a remarkable sense of "depth," even on my old 36-inch cathode-ray tube.
And again, the (yet another) delightfully retro setting, certain lighting effects, and some very interesting color combinations, or the umpteenth parade of furry characters flaunting ever fuller, softer, and shinier coats (in practice, from "Monsters, Inc." onward, being furry has become the true proving ground to test the digital prowess of a team of programmers. In short: the more fur there is, the cooler you are. Just like in real life.)
The problems, if any, start when the "eye has had its fill" and you begin to search for "something that will prevent the dreaded grimace of "a funny cartoon, but I wonder how much longer until the end..."
To be fair, it must be said that the film's initial premise (the story of poor Susan who, struck by a meteorite, finds herself transformed into a giant and enlisted into a team of "Monsters" controlled by the Government), despite its lack of originality, is pleasantly exploited, thanks to the playful balance of surreal comedy and human drama.
Equally effective is the usual cartload of more or less sophisticated cinematic references (and if I caught them, I'd say they're definitely "less sophisticated"): from the final villain, borrowed from Burton's "Mars Attack," to the command room that mirrors "Dr. Strangelove," from the cappuccino button of "Spaceballs," to certain flying machines swiped from some Miyazaki hangar, to the almost predictable "Blob" and, in general, much of 1950s sci-fi (see, for example, the mad scientist turned into a cockroach: a mixture between Cronenberg's "The Fly" and Corman's "The Experiment of Dr. K").
Consistently, then, with what seems to be the "style" of the latest Dreamworks productions, all the characters are characterized by a strong caricatured connotation. Indeed, it can be said, without fear of offending the screenwriters, that "Monsters vs. Aliens" boasts some of the stupidest characters ever seen in an animated film: from the President of the United States welcoming the aliens by playing the "Beverly Hills Cop" theme, to Blob dating a gelatin, to the tiny general who ends up getting attached to the Monsters...
In short, all very nice. All (fairly) funny. But... what about the rest?!
The rest are the usual themes of friendship, beauty in diversity, the "inner beauty" prevailing over appearance, accepting oneself despite one's flaws, overcoming one's fears and insecurities by finding that bit of courage that resides in all of us.
And the psychological evolution of Susan's character (initially shy and insecure, victim of her small-to-large neuroses, but destined for progressive awareness and emancipation) is not enough to make "Monsters vs. Aliens" a little more than yet another excuse for a new Happy Meal with a toy included.
In addition to this, a second part drags on through increasingly diluted sequences of fights and chases, the complete absence of plot twists worthy of the name (what will the giant caterpillar turn into after being reduced to a cocoon by the alien attack?! You don't need a degree in biology to figure it out...) and, above all, a narrative development that offers no surprises.
"Monsters vs. Aliens" thus ends up being yet another excellently packaged product, but unable to truly engage the viewer who has already surrendered to give up the pacifier once and for all.
Maybe it can be a good product for a carefree evening, or an excellent alternative to a depressing TV schedule, especially in the summer.
But don't expect more.
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