So, I’m “the bad”, and she’s “the pretty ugly?”
Megamind
It’s a no-brainer to catch this film...
SPOILERS AHEAD!!!
By jove, I think Dreamworks finally got it. For the first time since Shrek, they’ve come up with an adventure that wasn’t just funny and interesting, but it was downright well-crafted from beginning to end, learning better than to rely just on simple imagery and comedy to get a very strong movie with major parental bonus moments on top of it to just really seal the deal.
I liked the film enough to catch it twice on 3D, each time going with a friend. First time out, I went with Faiye, the next, I went with new friend Chrisha.
The film follows a pretty good storyline, replete with affectionate send-ups to Superman, as Megamind and Metro Man are two infants sent from their dying planets to Earth. Life deals Metro Man a very favourable hand, and it wasn’t long before he became a superhero, while Megamind’s luck has ended up building him to become a master criminal, capable of the most diabolical schemes and plots, yet always losing to Metro Man in all their great battles.
In one of these battles, Megamind finds himself completely taken by surprise when his plan actually works, and it appears that Metro Man has been once and for all vanquished. Then as if to call upon the dynamic of a villain needing a hero, he discovers that his existence needs the opposition in order to achieve some measure of validation. Without it, he feels empty inside, and only when he begins to find himself romantically involved with reporter Roxanne Ritchi, who doesn’t realize that a disguised Megamind is working closely with her, while trying to create another Metro Man to take the place of the fallen hero.
Metro Man’s replacement is Titan, who happens to be Hal, Roxanne’s cameraman. Unfortunately, his obsession with Roxanne derails him from his supposed task of defeating Megamind, and instead attemps to use his powers to win her over, and finds himself jaded and jilted when she turns him down.
Now, it’s up to Megamind, master of villainy, to actually save the day...
The plot is a great although not necessarily untreaded twist on the superhero genre. Will Ferrell plays an excellent Megamind, Tina Fey is excellent as Roxie, Brad Pitt is genius casting as Metro Man, and there’s no question that David Cross redeems himself from his Alvin and the Chipmunks antics as Minion, Megamind’s trusty sidekick. Overall, you could feel that they put a lot of stock into character development for this, while including just the right mix of kid-friendly and only-adults-can-get-it (But not necessarily off-color.) humor. Dreamworks is pretty good with parental bonus material, but at times, they can really go a little too crazy with it.
When I reflect upon what it means to be a Megamind, it becomes a true exercise in putting stock in the power of a person to choose, rather than allowing destiny to just toss him along the ride. Megamind was destined to be a great villain, or a terrible one, but a villain, nonetheless. With his free will and his metaphorically giving determinism the finger, he managed to show that it all boils down to the choices we make and to the things we aspire to become that allow us to become more than what our bio-data would proclaim us to be. He truly is more than merely the sum of his parts, and in doing so, captures the imagination of anyone who has ever had a dream. And no, I won't name-drop any philosophers to make this review sound any nerdier than it already is, or my name isn't Gabriel Marcel - err, Marcelle Fabie.
I heartily recommend this movie, although my experience of the film was enhanced by watching it with awesome friends. I suggest you do the same.
Fun Evaluation: A
Critical Evaluation: B+
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