by Sara Bartsch (Contributor)
Email: cascade.arts@ufv.ca
Megamind 3D is the tale of a well-intentioned super villain’s quest to find his place in the world. Directed by Tom McGrath, it has a star studded cast of voice actors, including: Brad Pitt as the well-muscled flying hero Metro Man; Will Farrell as Megamind; and Tina Fey as Roxanne Ritchie – a reporter and the main love interest. The film relies heavily on super hero clichés for much of its humour, but it still manages to make the characters feel unique. It mixes up traditional stereotypes by recreating the villain as the more sympathetic character. While this does give Megamind a bit of a childish feel, it helps the film find some originality in an overdone genre.
Megamind begins his life in a far away galaxy, and he is soon sent off in a tiny space-cradle by his parents just as his solar system is being annihilated by a black hole. Unfortunately, some parents on the next planet over had a similar idea. They launch the irritatingly perfect Metro Man off en route to Earth; and so begins a series of unfair coincidences which leave the well-meaning but socially awkward Megamind convinced that the only thing he does well is… being bad. Since everyone has experienced rejection in some form, it is easy for a wide audience to sympathize with Megamind’s feelings.
Following his resolution to be the very best at being bad, Megamind launches into a personally fulfilling career as a super villain. He enjoys a comfortably predictable cycle of almost succeeding at an evil master plan, being foiled by Metro Man, going to prison and escaping to terrorize Metro City once again. His biggest assets are a spirit of intrepid determination, a dehydration gun and his ever supportive, yet rarely competent, minion. His favourite hobbies include finding ways to look more evil and kidnapping Roxanne Ritchie. This carefree lifestyle ends abruptly one day when the unthinkable happens – he actually manages to defeat Metro Man. With his nemesis gone, Megamind finds himself without direction or purpose, and he must do some soul searching to find his true calling in life. He branches out to the worlds of dating, playing space daddy to a fledgling superhero and benevolent dictatorship.
The voice acting in this film is done extremely well. Will Farrell makes Megamind’s monologues truly memorable by giving him an endearing speech impediment. There is a humorous contrast between Megamind’s excessively spiked black ensemble and his innocently air headed personality. Brad Pitt doesn’t do too much with Metro Man but does manage to find a balance between annoyingly cocky yet not condescending. David Cross pulls off the role of a bumbling talking fish and minion of villainy remarkably well, and Tina Fey manages to sound as if Roxanne really does care about the fate of Metro City.
Megamind 3D is definitely geared towards a young audience, but adults sick of enduring all the depressing drama and horror films swamping theatres will find it a fun alternative for a night out. While not emotionally mature, it is entertaining and funny regardless of what age you are.
