Megamind
Directed by: Tom McGrath
Cast: (voices of) Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, Jonah Hill, David Cross, Brad Pitt
Running Time: 1 hr 30 mins
Rating: PG
Release Date: November 5, 2010
PLOT: Megamind (Ferrell) grew up a villain, but when he finally takes out his arch-nemesis and overall good guy Metroman (Pitt), Megamind must figure out if he truly wants to be bad.
WHO'S IT FOR? The kids will like it because they will like anything. Actually, that could be true for the entire audience for this film, it's basic entertainment. It's a similar plot as Despicable Me, but a little bit better.
EXPECTATIONS: I really had none for this animated flick. I like superheroes, but for some reason this one wasn't getting me too excited.
SCORECARD (0-10)
ACTORS:
Will Ferrell as Megamind: At some point, haven't we all called Ferrell "animated"? Seems like it would be the perfect fit. For the most part, it's just a really solid fit. The voice works, there's just not tons of material to work with here. In the beginning we get a flashback and see the upbringing on the future villain. It's amusing and makes perfect sense to the little ones in the audience ... if you get picked on, turn evil. Lesson learned. The thing that works best about the way this character looks is the sadness in the eyes. That could have been more of a focus, instead of the thing where Megamind mispronounces words. That got old real quick. Score: 7
Tina Fey as Roxanne Ritchi: She's our Lois Lane just like Metroman and Megamind are hybrids of Superman. I wish I had more to say here. There are tiny moments that feel very Liz Lemon (her character from "30 Rock") and she's serviceable in this film, just not very exciting. Plus, when she figures out the plot to Megamind's super plan ... she just does it by backing up. Does that make any sense at all? Score: 6
Jonah Hill as Tighten: First he's our Jimmy Olsen (yes, there are many things borrowed from Superman). Except he's not exactly as sweet as Jimmy. He comes off as a creepy stalker to Roxanne. It's never funny. Ever. It's a character I immediately wanted less of, but instead, I got more. Megamind needs a new hero, and accidentally gets Tighten. Score: 2
David Cross as Minion: I'm just not feeling it from Cross. I'm actually starting to realize the only time he's made me laugh is in "Arrested Development." Here, he's the sidekick to Megamind. He's a fish ... I don't know why. He's under appreciated by Megamind, which also doesn't serve much of a purpose. Score: 5
Brad Pitt as Metroman: Oh, he's really not in the film that much. I thought I was going to get a lot more back and forth between Megamind and Metroman. It really could have been anyone's voice. Pitt doesn't bring much to the table here. We see the city loves Metroman and in return he gets everything he could possibly want ... or does he? Score: 5
TALKING: Again, Megamind mispronouncing words is supposed to be funny. Again, the beginning is the most effective part when we get the back story. The middle really slows up with Megamind starting to fall for Roxanne. It's suddenly a slow moving, kind of lazy, romantic comedy. I don't remember laughing once during the middle hour of this film. That issue falls directly on the script. Score: 4
SIGHTS: The film looks great in 3D. That's pretty much standard for animated films these days. So, because it's just the latest in a long line, and not first to break new ground ... it's not that memorable to look at. The final battle will definitely keep your attention. Score: 7
SOUNDS: We're all over the place and very obvious with the song selection. Didn't Iron Man 2 just feature a bunch of AC/DC songs? Well, so does Megamind with "Back in Black" and "Highway to Hell." There's also room for "Welcome to the Jungle" and "Bad." Plus there's an obvious gag where Minion accidentally plays the wrong song. Score: 4
PLOT SPOILERS
BEST SCENE: The final battle has some good action, but it you haven't figured it out by now, I liked the beginning that is a complete riff on Superman, showing how Megamind and Metroman came to be.
ENDING: After everything works out with a good battle sequence, we're left watching everyone dance along to "Bad." They could have played that up or imitated the video or something. Also, there is a joke after the credits but it's not worth sticking around.
QUESTIONS: Why did it feel so flat? Maybe because they had an idea, but everything was borrowed. That's my best guess.
REWATCHABILITY: I wouldn't mind seeing parts again, but I don't need the movie as a whole, and I think Tighten might actually bug me more in a second viewing.
OVERALL
Something borrowed. Something blue. Megamind has plenty of both.
From the get go, this movie is an obvious homage/dedication to the story of Superman. We even have Ferrell playing a Jor-El like Marlon Brando at one point. While the idea and comparisons to the Man of Steel are interesting, whenever the film attempts to veer into new territory, there just isn't anything fun about it. Plus, it's impossible to shake the similarities between this film and Despicable Me. Both have minions and call them minions to the point of overkill. Both have a misunderstood villain who longs for acceptance and might not be that bad after all. What's worse than those things is the fact that mispronouncing words is not a joke. It's just mispronouncing. You actually need to follow that up with some humorous accident or something that comes from saying "shoe-el" instead of school.
Megamind doesn't even get its concept down. In one case we have the situation (otherwise considered society) making someone evil ... Megamind. In another situation, we have Tighten being evil/stalkerish because that's who he is. A simplistic movie such as this has to choose.
It might sound like I hate this film. I don't. It's just one of those films you see, and move on. Getting ready for your next. It doesn't make a dent. I was hoping it would. Megamind isn't super, but it's not much of a villain either.
FINAL SCORE: 5/10
