Monsters vs. Aliens

A young bride (voice by Reese Witherspoon) is hit by a meteorite that turns her into a 50-foot giant. Whisked away to a government compound and housed with other “monsters,” she’s still adjusting to her new life when they’re all sent to fight an invasion from outer space. This animated adventure boasts a huge crowd of writers (Maya Forbes, Wallace Wolodarsky, Jonathan Aibel, Glenn Berger, plus directors Rob Letterman and Conrad Vernon); that’s usually a bad sign, but not this time. The script—an affectionate spoof of 1950s sci-fi—is funny, exciting (especially in IMAX 3-D) and has a nice visual texture. Another pleasant surprise is the platoon of celebrity voices (Witherspoon, Seth Rogen, Hugh Laurie, Kiefer Sutherland, Rainn Wilson, etc.) all fitting their roles and having a high old time.