"Monsters vs. Aliens" has all the elements of a BIG! ANIMATED! MOVIE! EVENT!
A DreamWorks ("Shrek," "Kung Fu Panda") production? Check. Scary monsters and an alien invasion? Check, check. And hot 3-D action? Triple check!
Here are some notable things to know before you enter the theater:
• Try to see this film in 3-D. The groundbreaking effects using special 3-D glasses are stunning, a major step up from 3-D effects of yore. The highlight: a battle on the Golden Gate Bridge.
• The pop-culture-inflected plot line not only cribs from more recent films such as "Independence Day," "Men in Black," and "The Incredibles," but pays homage to cheesy 1950s B-level sci-fi flicks ("The Fly," "Creature From the Black Lagoon").
• Susan, played by Reese Witherspoon, gets hit by a meteor and becomes a super powerful 50-foot tall version of herself (and yes, her clothing conveniently grows with her). She's whisked away by the government and jailed with a bunch of oddball monsters collected over the years. But when Earth is threatened by an alien robot, the monsters are brought out to save the world after traditional military forces can't hack it.
• Major stars (mostly from TV) voice most of the characters. Hugh Laurie ("House") is a helpful mad scientist/cockroach. Kiefer Sutherland ("24") plays General Monger, who oversees the monsters. Stephen Colbert goofs around as the java-loving prez. Rainn Wilson ("The Office") voices haughty bad guy Gallaxhar.
• The most memorable character is B.O.B, a blue Jell-O-like blob voiced by Seth Rogen, who is insanely dopey but amusingly kind of heart.
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