Reviews: Monsters vs. Aliens (2009) Movie Review
Genres: Thriller, Sci-Fi, Action, Fantasy, Comedy, Adventure, Animation, Family, Kids
Subgenres:
Horror fans will enjoy our review of Monsters vs. Aliens (2009), where we cover its story, scares, and how it ranks among modern horror classics.
DreamWorks Animation delivered another modern wonder for my Halloween family entertainment in Monsters vs. Aliens (2009) which is co-directed by Rob Letterman and Conrad Vernon. The monsters (The Blob, The Fly (the Vincent Price original), the Creature from the Black Lagoon, and the Attack of the 50 Ft. Woman) join to defend Earth against an alien mastermind. Amazing is the estimated budget for this animated film was $175 million turning an estimated $198 million gross at the US box office. This movie draws many references from classic sci-fi films with the monsters referenced above, but did you also know; there is a scene that seems to make no sense but in fact, references Steven Spielberg‘s Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977).
Monsters vs. Aliens starts with Susan Murphy (Reese Witherspoon - Devil’s Knot (2013), Mud (2012)) on her wedding day becoming the victim of a mutation from a radioactive meteorite resulting in her growing to a huge size. Susan Murphy is then nicknamed Ginormica. No longer normal, she is grouped with monsters who are held as a special task force against dangers that are otherwise hard to stop. The alien mastermind sends a robot to destroy the Earth. The shadowy Men in Black type government agency promises the monsters their freedom if they save the Earth.
Monsters vs. Aliens springboards from one action scene to the next which makes it very exciting and low on the dull radar. The story is very simple, and the film is filled with gag humor. I for one can watch this film with my children and still laugh at the same funny scenes over and over again. The entire cast did an excellent job with their performances. The graphics are on par with The Incredibles (2004) but fit the film well. Watch this movie at least once and enjoy.
Similar films like Monsters vs. Aliens can be found in kids horror movies sub-genre(s), check them out for more movies like Monsters vs. Aliens.
Sources Used to Shape This Review
Insights in this review are drawn from director interviews, fan commentary, production notes, and long-form breakdowns across genre-specific platforms. Content is written uniquely and reviewed for accuracy.
- Monsters vs. Aliens Rating Scores
- Our Score: 8/10
- Overall Score: 6.98/10
- IMDB: 6.4/10
- MetaCritic: 5.6/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 7.3/10
Look here for more movies starting with M and here you can find 2009 movies to watch on your favorite streaming service.
Browse: Must See Best Horror Movies for Kids / Horror Movies for Kids List