Grade: C+ Runtime: 96 minutes Scene Says: Lack of originality drags down otherwise fun film.
DreamWorks Animation has released yet another animated feature, and true to all of their other titles, “Megamind” entertains children of all ages with a cast of contemporary film stars lending their vocal talents.
In a story similar to the origin of Superman, two alien children blast to Earth, one containing the alien that will become Metro Man (Brad Pitt) and the other containing Megamind (Will Ferrell). Metro Man becomes the shining celebrity, while Megamind is shunned — leading him to become decidedly evil.
Megamind’s exploits reach an early climax when he kidnaps reporter Roxanne Ritchi (Tina Fey) as a way of luring his rival to his doom. From there, Megamind learns very quickly that not having a nemesis is much worse for a super villain than having one — what fun is there in random acts of evil without anybody to resist you?
The film has a nearly-identical plotline to every other DreamWorks film. A social outcast undertakes a harrowing task, wins what he or she thinks is a major victory, only to realize that there is a greater — almost impossible and infinitely more dangerous — task in order to actually win. Along the way, a woman who would never associate herself with the main character pretty much thrusts herself on the character by the end of the film.
There is some neat, semi self-deprecating, yet inspiring speech that the character says before being fantastically amazing and saving the day. This has been seen in “Antz,” “Shrek,” “Shrek 2,” “Shrek the Third,” “Over the Hedge,” “Bee Movie,” “Shark Tale” and “How to Train Your Dragon.” “Megamind” deviates a little from this cookie-cutter plot, as all DreamWorks animated films do, but the overall highlights remain the same.
Ultimately, this grievance against the movie can be summarized into one overarching complaint: DreamWorks thinks their audience is stupid. One can argue that the audience is small children, but that is not necessarily true — there are elements of every animated film that appeal to a more mature audience. Part of why animated films do so well is because they are entertaining for the young, but also the young at heart.
“Megamind” is an enjoyable film, but it is far beyond time DreamWorks Animation tries a little bit of originality. Otherwise this film continues to make the studio the Nickelback of children’s animated films.
thescene@theeagleonline.com
