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Megamind
Starring: Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, Jonah Hill, David Cross, and Brad Pitt
Director: Tom McGrath
Writers: Alan J. Schoolcraft & Brent Simons
Studio: Dreamworks
Rated PG
Time: 96 minutes

What if Lex Luthor truly and finally defeated Superman?  Apparently this is the question that inspired the creation of Megamind, the latest offering from Dreamworks Animation.  Will Ferrell headlines as the title character, while Brad Pitt stars as his Superman-like nemesis, Metro Man.  Tina Fey is television reporter Roxanne Ritchi, an obvious nod to Lois Lane, and Jonah Hill is her fat, nerdy cameraman Hal, who has a long standing crush on Roxanne.  We also get the always funny David Cross as Megamind’s fish-head-on-a-robot-body henchman, Minion.

Megamind and Metro Man have an existence so interwoven, that one can’t seem to function without the other, and this is proven when Megamind inadvertently defeats Metro Man in a highly destructive fashion.  Megamind has become so used to losing his battles with Metro Man that the shocked look on his face once he realizes his victory is priceless.

After taking over the city and getting everything he thought he wanted, Megamind finds himself completely dissatisfied and lamenting that it’s no fun being bad when there’s no one to stop you.  This gives him the idea to create a new superhero, one that he can do battle with in order to restore things to the way they were.

Through a chain of events, Megamind accidentally turns Hal the cameraman into the would-be superhero, Titan (or Tighten, as the not-too-bright Hal likes to spell it).  Titan, once he realizes his powers and learns how to use them, decides that being evil is more fun and goes on a destructive rampage that forces Megamind to become what he never imagined he’d be: a superhero.

This is a well-scripted comedy that takes the superhero mythos and turns it on its ear, creating an experience that, while somewhat predictable, is also very funny.  I found it surprising and refreshing that the writers mostly stayed away from the potty humor that so many family films run to these days.  It shows a desire to create a smart comedy and not just go for the easy laughs.

While I saw the movie in 3D, it wasn’t really that reliant on the effect, so if your local theater isn’t 3D capable, don’t feel bad.  You’ll still have a very enjoyable experience watching the movie.

In addition, while it’s making you laugh, the movie also raises some interesting points about the themes of forgiveness, redemption, and the consequences of our choices.  Megamind learns the hard way that it’s not what you say that matters, but what you do, and even when he’s trying to do the right thing, his past evil deeds follow him, causing Roxanne to doubt his good intentions.  Before he can save the city from Titan, he must admit his wrongs and earn Roxanne’s trust.

Overall, this is a really good movie that will entertain the whole family and also provide some opportunity for discussions about the importance of backing up our words with our choices.  My son and I had a pretty good talk about these things after the movie which gave me ample opportunity to point him to the One who can help us make that happen: Jesus.  And to me, that alone was worth the price of admission.     

Eric Landfried