Rated PG for action and some language, 96 minutes
Charming, talky “Megamind” an entertaining superhero romp
Peanut butter and jelly. Abbott and Costello. Good and evil. Some things just go together. The charming, witty new Dreamworks animated film “Megamind” explores some of those ideas in bright 3D. Leisurely, playful but a little talky, some of it may go over the heads of the young ones it’s intended for. Well-voiced with some colorful hues, it’s not as zany as you might expect, but it’s still enjoyable fun.
Megamind (Will Ferrell), the super-villain with a huge blue head, and handsome superhero Metroman (Brad Pitt) have been lifelong foes, with TV news anchor Roxanne (Tina Fey) reporting their every move. After an intense fight, Megamind really kills Metroman but becomes bored because he has no one to fight. Along with his trusted colleague Minion (David Cross), Megamind creates a new superhero named Tigthen (Jonah Hill), but it disastrously backfires, and he finds himself making the decision to be a hero or villain.
The enjoyable “Megamind” is an above-average animated superhero tale from the makers of the animated “Madagascar” films. The movie is dialogue-heavy, most kids won’t get many of the references from other superhero movies or some of the jokes and most troubling, there’s a big lull in the middle of the movie, but it is peppered with some bright spots along the way.
Without its fun cast and colorful animation, “Megamind” might be a downright bore. Ferrell is his typical goofball self as the bored, blue superhero; Fey is chipper as the reporter caught in the middle, and Hill especially has fun with his good guy/bad guy hero part. Pitt’s role is much smaller than you might expect, but he lends an able hand to bookend the movie. Comic character actor Cross (currently seen in the Fox comedy “Running Wilde”) is witty as Megamind’s fish minion, and listen closely for an unrecognizable Ben Stiller in a small voice role.
“Megamind” works best when it doesn’t have to think too much and you don’t have to listen closely to the jokes. While some of the references are clever, such as a father that is a direct homage to Marlon Brando’s Jor-El in “Superman,” young ones won’t get it or realize that Fey’s role is really just another Lois Lane. Director Tom McGrath (“Madagascar”) should’ve kept it flowing better and it veers off in the second act, only to return to the high fun and energy in the climax.
“Megamind” is decent, original entertainment for the family, though it’s not as uproariously funny as it should be given the comic credentials of Ferrell, Fey, Cross and Stiller. The movie doesn’t have enough inspiration to provide mega-laughs but there’s enough to still leave with a mega-smile.
