Dream Works newest creation

From the makers of Bolt and Kung Fu Panda, comes a 3-D animated feature which promises a combination of Doctor Who, Star Wars and Star Trek.

Monsters vs. Aliens targets all ages, with its high empowered story for kick ass kids and references to B-movie sci-fi horror that will have the adults chuckling in their seats. It’s definitely a movie for all the family to enjoy.

The story begins when a meteorite hits California on the very day that Susan (voiced by Reese Witherspoon) is to marry local TV weatherman Derek (Paul Rudd).

In a classic Fifties B-movie scenario Susan expands to 10 times her normal size, is captured by the government and imprisoned in a secret facility run by General WR Monger (Kiefer Sutherland).

Her fellow freaks of nature include mad scientist Dr Cockroach (a droll Hugh Laurie), fish/ape hybrid The Missing Link (Will Arnett) and a gormless gelatinous blob called Bob (hilarious Seth Rogen).

But when evil alien Gallaxher (Rainn Wilson) sets his sights on planet Earth, Susan and the monsters are the only ones who can save the day. Fast-moving and sweet-natured with some healthy messages about tolerance and female empowerment, Monsters Vs Aliens is a lot of fun. In Witherspoon’s Susan, the movie offers a spirited heroine for girls while the enigmatic spectacle is aimed at boys and the monster movie reverence is for the benefit of the older movie fan.

Whilst the majority of the movie has been executed well, there is one slight glitch- the film lacks uniformity and doesn’t flesh out any of the ideas it plays with. It’s clearly trying to please everyone in the audience, and at times is does feel that the movie is trying to fit as many gags in to one scene as possible. But with seven writers on deck it’s not surprising.

The film is screened in both 3D and 2D, but aside from a handful of impressive 3D effects, you’d be equally well-served opting for the two-dimensional version.