MEGAMIND

2010, DreamWorks Animation

Animation

Rating: PG

Approx. 91 mins.

THE STORY:

Metrocity is a battlefield where good guy Metroman (Brad Pitt) constantly thwarts bad guy Megamind's (Will Ferrell) misguided, clumsy attempts at evil. During one of their regular conflicts, Megamind unexpectedly manages to kill the hero. He then finds himself without a raison d'etre, missing the challenge of a rival.

Ever resourceful, Megamind sets out to create a hero challenger to return meaning to his life. Not surprisingly 'Tighten' (Jonah Hill), as the dim-witted hero comes to style himself, turns out to be a far cry from heroic and Megamind finds himself reverting to the role of good guy trying to save Metrocity and his surprise romantic interest (Tina Fey).

Good triumphs over evil, the guy gets the girl and everyone lives happily ever after.

QUESTIONABLE LANGUAGE:

• freaking

VIOLENCE:

• Minion, Megamind and Metroman all appear to die, but none actually do 

TEACHING POINTS:

• the person you are destined to be is the person you choose to be

THE UPSHOT:

Will Ferrell and Tina Fey... need I say more? It's smart, funny and original. I especially liked the fact that it presents a strong, intelligent, resourceful female character, and that it deals with the shades of grey lying between good and bad. The two aren't shown as Disneyfied static extremes, but as mutable states between which the characters ebb and flow.

Everybody in the room loved this and it stood up to multiple viewings. In a nutshell: See This.

4.5/5