TMG Scale 10.0 Yes, a true ten for an animated film.
Starring Will Ferrell, Brad Pitt, Tina Fey, Jonah Hill, Ben Stiller
Megamind is a great film, animated or not. No adult will complain taking the kids to see this film…and every kid deserves to go! The 3D I-Max version is highly recommended and worth the extra few dollars. Treat yourself and the neighbor kids today ! You’ll be a hero for it!
Megamind is every bit the funky guy Will Ferrell is in real life. Metroman is a straightlaced Superman style character voiced by Brad Pitt—though I really thought he sounded like George Clooney for awhile. Both are ejected off a dying planet by their parents and sent to Earth. Yes, nothing original here and every bit right out of the pages of Superman. [Later we learn that Metroman even has a secret weakness if exposed to copper—versus kryptonite that Superman was allergic to.] Megamind lands in a prsion yard and Metroman evolves into a sort of combination of Elvis, Mr. Incredible and Buzz Lightyear character. They follow separate life paths of good and evil and compete for the affections of the ultra hottie reporter Roxanne Ritchie (voiced by Tina Fey). Roxanne is certainly no Lois Lane and adds some nice spice to the film.
So with pretty much a Superman Twins plot, why was this movie so good? It just was. It was laced with great humor for both adults and children. The writers here were obviously aware that it is adults who take kids to animated films. You have to write for both levels. It is why great animated efforts like Monsters Inc. (2001) and Finding Nemo (2003) and Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore (2010) were so great. It is why films like Despicable Me (2010) and Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole (2010) was so boring to most adults. Great classic rock songs and artists from George Thorogood and Michael Jackson, to Elvis and AC/DC, really added lots of kick. Even little kids really enjoy the lyrics and beat of Bad to the Bone. Ferrell adds a belly splitting scene you should recognize as lifted from his role as Mustafa in Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997).
Only one TMG caution in this otherwise awesome, animated masterpiece. Both Joy Lynn and I squirmed a bit at a New York City style scene of Megamind imploding a large skyscraper. This was just way to close to the 911 scene of World Trade Center loss. What on earth were the writers and directors thinking of? It was a small and totally unnecessary part of the film and should be clipped from future releases.
TMG could gush on and on. Jonah Hill’s Jimmy Olson style character looks just like Jonah in real life. Megamind’s sidekick Minion is just priceless. Best quote of the film is while Megamind is trying to experience a conversion to good and takes on Tighten and chastises him “You’re a villain Tighten, just not a Supervillain.” When Tighten asks “What’s the difference?” Ferrell, er huh Megamind, drawls out loudly “Presentation!” It’s very funny.
This film will be shown to kids and adults alike for years to come.