Look Out For the One-eyed Alien! or Did You Mean Monster?

A huge blue smiley, one-eyed gelatin blob is the main attraction in this somewhat disappointing 3D IMAX film. ‘B.O.B. the Blob’ (Seth Rogen)–the monster with the wacky personality should have had more on-screen time, although I’m not sure he could have saved this film. B.O.B.’s one of the monsters that’s been captured by the US government since the 1950’s and lives in a secret compound that’s guarded by military soldiers. The principal monster is a normal perky girl, Susan Murphy (Reese Witherspoon) who has grown in stature to almost 50 feet high and has extraordinary super sized strength.

Directed by Rob Letterman (Shark Tale) 2004 and Conrad Vernon (Shrek 2) 2004, both also receive credit for developing the story. The screenplay was penned by 5 different writers. The opening scenes introduce Susan Murphy, an optimistic sweet girl who is about to be married to a news reporter who is a self-centered jerk, Derek Dietl (Paul Rudd). As Susan makes final preparations on her wedding day, a meteor suddenly drops from the sky and clobbers her. She’s transformed into an overly tall person (think skyscraper, as she’s almost 50 ft. high) with Incredible Hulk strength.

All of this excitement is really cool but when Susan’s captured and taken away to a sterile gray compound and placed in a room that resembles the inside of a trash compacter, the fun stops. At this point, we are introduced to the other captured monsters; Dr. Cockroach, the insect-headed scientist (Hugh Laurie), The Missing Link, the macho half ape-fish (Will Arnett), B.O.B. the blue gelatin blob (Seth Rogen) who all have their own tales of woe. This motley crew becomes Susan’s new friends and allies.

If all of this isn’t bad enough, next Susan’s informed that she’s been renamed ‘Ginormica’ by the government and given a poster that was popular from the 80’s (the one with the cat hanging from a tree branch, that says ‘Hang in there’). Susan reacts badly to this news and clearly is not happy as she demands a real kitty to help her ‘hang in there’. You go girl!

Here’s my question; ‘Why is sweet Susan treated so badly?” Her wedding day is ruined, she’s a giant, her name has been changed (it’s not even something hip like Brittany or Tiffany) and she’s forced to live in a grey steel room with 1 poster. Sorry, I’m ‘not liking’ this script.

The story continues as San Francisco Bay is invaded by a huge steel alien robot with one eye that’s shaped like a large hill, equipped with robotic arms. The government decides the best plan of action is to enlist the help of the captured monsters to fight the ‘Steel Hill One-Eyeball Thing.’ (First of all, two one-eyed hill shaped characters in the same movie is redundant, give us something with more imagination please.) Susan and her monster crew whip into action and fight the thing.

My favorite scene depicts Susan skating uncontrollably using cars as her skates as she’s en route to battle the alien. Of course she is apologizing every three seconds to all she encounters as she skates wildly through the hilly streets of San Francisco. Upon meeting the alien Susan uses her super strength and is victorious. Let’s just say, the Golden Gate Bridge will never look the same.

Later in the film we meet the really mean ‘head honcho’ alien who sent the ‘robot hill thing’. The scenes on the alien planet are too dark (colors are dull) and dreary for way to long. There are not many jokes during these long sequences, just arrogant proclamations from the mean squid guy. Boring.

I’m really not sure the 3D IMAX is worth the extra money. The movie can be viewed in 2D and 3D which costs less. If the story were anywhere near the quality of “WALL*E” I’d say go for it, otherwise save some cash and settle for 2D.

Sarah Adamson © 2009