Genre: CG Animation
Director: Tom McGrath
Cast: Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, Jonah Hill, Brad Pitt, David Cross, Aramis Knight
RunTime: 1 hr 30 mins
Released By: UIP
Rating: PG
Official Website: http://www.megamindmovie.com/

Opening Day: 4 November 2010

Synopsis:

When super villain Megamind (Ferrell) defeats his archrival Metro Man (Pitt), the world should be his oyster. But instead, Megamind falls into total despair. It turns out that life without a rival is life without a point for him. So, he creates a new superhero rival, Titan (Hill). Unfortunately, the new hero wants to be a super villain, too. Caught in the middle, star reporter Roxanne Ritchi (Fey) asks the tough questions: Who can we turn to? Who has what it takes to stand up to this menace? Who will defend the innocent? Megamind! That's who.

Movie Review:

We believe that God is fair – what one lacks in a certain department is probably made up in another. We say this because while we are not the best looking people, we choose to believe that we are blessed with the gift of writing, hence the reviews you are reading on this humble website. And that is why we feel for comedians like Will Ferrell. He is not the most dashing leading man around, but he is one hell of a funny man.

This latest feature from DreamWorks Animation is a fine testament to that: The title character’s over swollen skull and blue skin makes him one of the most disturbingly ugly animated characters of all time, but like the actor who voices him, he is one hell of a funny creature.

We feel for you, Mr. Ferrell, we truly do.

When we first meet Megamind, he is falling to his death. A voiceover then brings us back to the day he is born, right up to the predicament he is facing at the moment. You see, Megamind has been trying very hard over the years to conquer Metro City. You name the method, he has tried it. He fails every time because of the existence of Metro Man, a caped superhero who seems too perfect to be true. In an unexpected turn of events, Megamind defeats and kills Metro Man. To balance the equation of good versus evil, Megamind creates a new superhero Titan, who eventually becomes a super villain. Throw in a love interest in the form of a pesky news reporter Roxanne Ritchi, and you get 96 minutes of wacky and exhilarating fun.

Trust the filmmakers to gather a brilliant cast of voice actors for this production. Ferrell is a certified fast talker who provides most of the movie’s best lines. The Saturday Night Live alum puts his talents of impersonations and spoofing a range of characters to good use here. Listen out for the fast talking Megamind as he delivers line after line of amusingly entertaining dialogue. Tina Fey is adorably humourous as Roxanne Ritchi the news anchor who refuses to be the damsel in distress, David Cross is a hoot as Megamind’s underappreciated piranha Minion, while Jonah Hill’s goofiness comes through nicely as the menacing Titan. Rounding up the ensemble is Brad Pitt as Mr Goodie Two Shoes Metro Man. After voicing Sinbad in the studio’s Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas some seven years ago, the hunky leading man personifies his usual arresting on screen presence with a duly fun performance.

The next thing audiences would ask is: Is this worth the 3D ticket price? It is with great pleasure we tell you that it’s a positive yes. Animations have always been a more welcoming medium for studios to milk the cash cow that is 3D technology. But those which truly capture the magic of the additional dimension are few and far between. Director Tom McGrath has managed to effectively feature this somewhat overused technique with good eye popping effect. Watch out as Megamind’s Brain Bots fly towards you, clap your hands in glee as Metro Man whizzes at the screen, and gape in awe as balls of fire explode after one another, no thanks to Titan’s newfound super power.

These enthralling sensational moments would not be what they are without a witty and dynamite script. You’d be entertained every other minute by the sharp writing, and kept engaged by the dynamic plot development. While the young ones are wowed by the dazzling animation, the older audiences will be having fun with the fresh and crisp jokes.

As the movie comes to an end, we almost forgot how hideous Megamind is. The guy has gotten a special place in our hearts.

Movie Rating:



(Hang on tight and be prepared for mega fun!)

Review by John Li