3D Megamind (2010); animated comedy action film review

Theatrical poster artwork for the animated comedy action film Megamind.

Virtuous Villain by Linh

On the surface, animated film Megamind from DreamWorks looks like another twist on Illumination Entertainment’s debut feature animation Despicable Me.  Megamind has the same plot of a villain-turned-hero, but with deeper meanings and more complex concepts such as existentialism.  This time, there are no cute little orphan girls warming the heart of a super-villain, but a spunky female reporter armed with razor wit and a sharp tongue.

Megamind upturns the traditional tale of the hero defeating the villain to win the love of a good woman, into a humour-filled, life-changing adventure for a villain who finally realises his true calling in life and a hero who willingly loses to win. Megamind also references other super-hero, horror and science fiction films such as Superman, Frankenstein, The Karate Kid (not the re-make starring Jaden Smith) and 2001: A Space Odyssey.

The film opens with Megamind (Will Ferrell) narrating over several seconds from the ending scene, before launching into a ten-minute prologue explaining Megamind’s backstory and his encounters with Metro Man (Brad Pitt) since they were babies. When Megamind was only eight days old, his home planet was soon to be destroyed so his parents placed him in a space shuttle crib with a piranha sidekick named Minion and sent them hurtling towards Earth. Along the way, baby Megamind meets baby Metro Man and a rivalry begins. Baby Metro Man lands into the home of a good family, while Megamind crashes into the yard of Metro City’s Prison for the Criminally Gifted.

MALEVOLENT MASTERMIND: Megamind (Will Ferrell) plots to destroy Metro Man and Metro City in the film Megamind. Image: DreamWorks Animation, Paramount Pictures.

Fast forward to the present, Megamind escapes from prison, yet again, with the help of Minion (David Cross), and is seen plotting another attack to destroy Metro City with his army of brain-bots in tow, capturing the local reporter Roxanne Ritchi (Tina Fey) and killing his arch-nemesis Metro Man. When Megamind’s evil plot to kill Metro Man succeeds, his sweet success soon turns sour as he discovers his villainy is useless without a hero to fight him.  Megamind sets out to remedy his problem with disastrous results for himself and Metro City.

RESILIENT REPORTER: Roxanne Ritchi (Tina Fey) becomes accustomed to Megamind's failed attempts to destroy Metro City in the film Megamind. Image: DreamWorks Animation, Paramount Pictures.

Megamind has a cast of comedic talent to voice quirky, irreverent and funny characters who experience consequences resulting from the choices they make in life. That is the main theme carried throughout the film as the characters choose how to use their human or super-human powers for the purposes of good or evil.

SUPERHERO SAVIOUR: Metro Man (Brad Pitt) high fives the audience as they prepare to honour him with the opening of the Metro Man Museum in the film Megamind. Image: DreamWorks Animation, Paramount Pictures.

Will Ferrell (The Other Guys, Anchorman: The Legend Continues) voices Megamind, the super-villain with a sense of humour that’s child-like but makes him affable. Ferrell gives Megamind an inquiring mind and endearing charm, despite speech flaws such as placing the emphasis on the wrong vowel in words like ‘melancholy’ and mispronouncing names like ‘Metro City’ to rhyme with ‘velocity’. Since childhood, Megamind’s super-intelligence has enabled him to create weapons of mass mayhem and develop inventions for evil purposes such as the dehydration/rehydration gun, the invisible car, the brain-bots who carry out his dastardly deeds, the superhero infuser/defuser gun and the identity-altering watch. Megamind also built the gorilla-robot body for his best friend and sidekick, Minion. He chose his own name and chose his life path of evil while he was a little boy studying at the 'Lil’ School for the Lil’ Gifted' with Metro Man.

HERO HUNT: Megamind (Will Ferrell) and Minion (David Cross) find their new superhero in the film Megamind. Image: DreamWorks Animation, Paramount Pictures.

Megamind references Dr. Frankenstein in Frankenstein when he decides to make someone into a hero, but instead ‘creates a monster’. Just like Dr Frankenstein, Megamind eventually sets out to destroy his creation. He also plays a mentor to his ‘creation’ Titan (misspelt as ‘Tighten’ by Hal) like Mr Miyagi (Pat Morita) in The Karate Kid, and puts on a good Marlon Brando impersonation from The Godfather, while disguised as Hal’s Space Dad.

MIXED MEDIA: Hal (Joanh Hill) and Roxanne (Tina Fey) are polar opposites working as a reporting team in the film Megamind. Image: DreamWorks Animation, Paramount Pictures.

Rising star Jonah Hill (Get Him To The Greek, Moneyball) is the voice of video game geek and Roxanne’s hapless cameraman, Hal, who is secretly in love with her. This name references the malfunctioning and malicious computer HAL in sci-fi classic 2001: A Space Odyssey, and milked even further in Megamind, when Hal appears in shirts with computer-related messages such as “Error 404 request not found” or “Game Over”. Hill looks and sounds like the unassuming and everyday person and this translates well into Hal’s characterisations and appearance in the film.

Star and writer of multi- award winning television series 30 Rock, Tina Fey’s (Baby Mamma, Date Night) vocal qualities are perfectly suited to bring out the tenacity and intelligence in the feisty Roxanne. Fey also brings some romance and rivalry into the story, adding a feminine presence alongside the male-dominated cast of characters.

SHARED SHOCK: Megamind (Will Ferrell) and Roxanne (Tina Fey) are in disbelief to discover Metro Man's secret in the film Megamind. Image: DreamWorks Animation, Paramount Pictures.

Brad Pitt is well cast as the voice of Metro City’s hero and idol, Metro Man, bringing sexiness, courage and benevolence to the character. ‘Metro Man’ is the name given to him by the citizens of Metro City, unlike Megamind who was able to choose his own name. Metro Man is a neo-Superman, who can fly, has heat ray vision, super-human strength, super sonic speed et cetera. Along with the name and responsibilities of upholding justice and keeping evil at bay, Metro Man feels exhausted and tired of doing things for others 24 hours a day and never having to do what he likes. Metro Man makes an impromptu choice during a battle against Megamind, to rid himself of all responsibilities and ties as the saviour and super-hero of Metro City. This choice causes Megamind’s evil plan to backfire and forces him to seek another super-hero to replace Metro Man.

Every super-villain needs a partner and Minion is the best friend and super-sidekick of Megamind. David Cross (Alvin and the Chipmunks : The Squeakquel, Kung Fu Panda 2) does a superb job of voicing the hilarious, patient and super-intelligent piranha-in-a-bowl, who Megamind calls a “fantastic fish”. Although Megamind is the inventor of the bizarre and hi-tech gadgetry in the film, it is Minion who provides the ideas and inspiration for Megamind’s plans. However, some of Minion’s ideas for weapons always need a minute to “warm up” which frustrates Megamind and stalls some of his best-laid plans.

Promotional poster artwork for the animated comedy action film Megamind.

The film’s soundtrack includes rock and pop music from Michael Jackson, Guns N Roses, ACDC, George Thorogood and the Destroyers and Minnie Riperton, as well as wonderful ambient and incidental music by Hans Zimmer and Lorne Balfe.

Megamind is funny, fast-paced and action-packed with some serious themes and complex concepts not presented in other recent animated films such as Despicable Me or How To Train Your Dragon. Megamind appeals to a diverse audience where children will enjoy the good versus evil action sequences, while the adults may reflect on the concepts of life’s paths/destiny/purpose/choices. Megamind is not as emotionally manipulating as Toy Story 3 but more attention-grabbing than Despicable Me.

Promotional poster artwork for the animated comedy action film Megamind.

Director: Tom McGrath

Writers: Alan J. Schoolcraft (story), Brent Simons (story)

Voice Cast: Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, David Cross, Jonah Hill, Brad Pitt, Ben Stiller, J.K. Simmons, Justin Theroux, Jessica Schulte, Tom McGrath, Emily Nordwind, Brian Hopkins, Christopher Knights, Stephen Kearin, Ella Olivia Stiller, Quinn Dempsey Stiller, Mike Mitchell, Jack Blessing, Jasper Johannes Andrews

       

Producers: Holly Edwards, Stuart Cornfeld, Ben Stiller, Denise Nolan Cascino, Lara Breay

    

Creative Consultants: Justin Theroux, Guillermo del Toro

Original Music Composer: Hans Zimmer, Lorne Balfe

          

Film Editor: Michael Andrews

                

Production Designer: David James

      

Running Time: 1 hour and 35 minutes 

Juno (2007); comedy drama film review

Poster artwork for the comedy romance drama film Juno.

*Up The Duff For MacGuff by Linh

Following his highly successful satirical drama Thank You For Smoking, director Jason Reitman effectively brings Diablo Cody's brilliant screenwriting to cinematic perfection in the independent film Juno. Juno tells the story of sixteen year old Juno MacGuff who falls pregnant, considers abortion, opts for adoption and gains an understanding of being a woman despite her tender years.

The film's allure is in Diablo Cody's script which finds humour in the most serious and dire situations. The dialogue is sprinkled with impressive one-liners and phrases that are destined to become part of the everyday contemporary lexicon. The film's fantastic soundtrack adds to the scenes' nuances and reflects the characters' idiosyncrasies.

Ellen Page is exceptional as the impulsive and intelligent Juno MacGuff, whose naïveté and immaturity leads to her pregnancy. Page's portrayal of Juno deserves an Oscar, and she draws you into her character's world and makes you laugh, respect, admire and care about Juno.

Michael Cera is affable as the father of Juno's baby, Paulie Bleeker, but is downplayed and he is absent in the choices and decisions regarding the baby. Yet, this may point to Bleeker's childlike and trusting nature, who is happy to have Juno around on her terms and he would do anything for her.

Allison Janney gives a classy performance as Juno's stepmum Brenda MacGuff, who starts off as the typical overprotective parent with suspicions her children are messing with drugs, alcohol or being expelled from school. The clever script allows Brenda to evolve into a hip and sharp-tongued parent winning approval from Juno and the audience.

JK Simmons is superb as Juno's dad Mac MacGuff, who shows similar character evolution with his dialogue going from square to there. His father and daughter talk with Juno includes the hilarious line "Isn't that what the girls call it these days? Skanky? Skeezy? You know, tore up from the floor up?".

The adoption couple have a more complex character structure as a pair as well as individually.
Jennifer Garner and Jason Bateman play Vanessa and Mark Loring, who at first seem like the happily married couple desperately wanting a child to complete their domestic bliss. Garner exudes plenty of maternal warmth and sincerity as Vanessa who gains a child despite losing a partner.
Jason Bateman's Mark is a child at heart and a man whose rock 'n roll dreams remain unfulfilled. Bateman is charming as Mark, and his character's mutual affection towards Juno reveals a yearning to be young again and live for his music.

Every teenage comedy drama needs a best friend for the hero/heroine and Olivia Thirlby exceeds beyond expectations as Leah. Thirlby gives her character Leah a vibrant and optimistic energy, with enough perkiness to enliven any gloomy situation, especially in helping Juno find adoptive parents, "You should look in the Penny Saver...Yeah, 'Desperately Seeking Spawn'."

The soundtrack to the film is eclectic with indie-pop and pseudo-folk songs which include Sonic Youth, Cat Power, Kimya Dawson and The Kinks. A duet is featured in the film with Ellen Page and Michael Cera performing Anyone Else But You.

*Up the duff - Australian slang meaning pregnant.(www.alldownunder.com)

FOETAL ATTRACTION: Ultrasound technician (Kaaren de Zilva) makes moral judgement comments on teenage pregnancy to Juno (Ellen Page) in front of Leah (Olivia Thirlby) and  Brenda (Allison Janney) in the film Juno.

Image: Fox Searchlight Pictures

Director: Jason Reitman


Writers: Diablo Cody (screenplay)

Cast: Ellen Page, Michael Cera, Jennifer Garner, Jason Bateman, Allison Janney, Olivia Thirlby, J.K. Simmons, Rainn Wilson, Sierra Pitkin, Kaaren De Zilva, Emily Perkins, Daniel Clark, Eileen Pedde, Ashley Whillans


Producers: Nathan Kahane, Daniel Dubiecki, John Malkovich, Brad Van Arragon, Mason Novick, Kelli Konop, Jim Miller, Liane Halfon, Joseph Drake, Russell Smith

Cinematographer: Eric Steelberg (Director of Photography)

Original Music Composer: Mateo Messina

Film Editor: Dana E. Glauberman

Production: Steve Sakland (Production Designer), Michael Diner, Catherine Schroer (Art Directors), Shane Vieau (Set Decorator)

Costume Designer: Monique Prudhomme

Running Time: 1 hour and 35 minutes