Check out our review after the jump.
Megamind
starring Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, Jonah Hill, David Cross, Brad Pitt
directed by Tom McGrath
rated PG
Talk about the revenge of the nerds. Megamind assembles an all-star-nerds gallery of voice actors (Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, David Cross, Jonah Hill) and one miscast A-list hunk (Brad Pitt) to tell an exceptionally smart and funny story about the codependent relationship between good and evil.
Megamind (Ferrell) and Metro Man (Pitt) are both alien creatures who were sent to Earth as babies to escape the fate of their home planet. But while Metro Man effortlessly landed in the home of a wealthy and privileged family, Megamind landed in a prison. This is an interesting choice by screenwriters Alan J. Schoolcraft and Brent Simons, to introduce this sociological element into how the smart, scheming Megamind became “the villain” while the vain, entitled Metro Man became “the hero.” But this is a cartoon, so I should stop talking like that.
Fast forward a few decades, and Metro Man and Megamind are locked in the usual adversarial role play over the safety of Metro City. And, as is the norm, Megamind somehow loses every time. But when one of his plans to vanquish Metro Man seems to inadvertently succeed, Megamind is left without someone to battle. What’s a supervillain in an existential crisis to do? Why, create a new opponent, of course!
Megamind is a solidly above-average animated action-comedy. With the exception of Pitt, whose mumbly drawl was never cut out for voice work, the voice actors deliver the goods. Tina Fey brings her trademark intelligence and wit to her readings as Roxanne, the object of Megamind’s crush (and frequent kidnappings), and David Cross scores lots of laughs as Megamind’s sidekick, the appropriately named Minion.
This is definitely one for the kids and the grown-ups. But for you childless grown-ups (like myself), do yourself a favor and see a late show. The dialogue is too clever to be drowned out by crying babies.
RIYL: clever animated comedies
