Megamind

After a week’s gap due to the snow and subsequent decimation of that week’s reviews’ page, I was back in the Doncaster Free Press this week with a review of the animated film, Megamind. It wasn’t a film that I’d have chosen to go and see at the cinema but I rather enjoyed it. Other reviews I’ve seen since have been harsher on it, but I found it diverting enough and it had a fair few laughs. The review I wrote is, as ever, reproduced below:

 

What’s the point of being bad if there's no good to stop you? That question forms the crux of Dreamworks’ new animated film, Megamind.

You see, Megamind is not a superhero. Voiced by Will Ferrell, he’s actually the nefarious enemy of the superhero Metro Man (Brad Pitt) but it’s the villain’s story we follow. And after Metro Man departs, what is there for Megamind to do without life seeming rather dull? Where’s the fun in being evil if there’s no-one on the side of good to stand in your way?

Admittedly it’s derivative; The Incredibles and the Austin Powers films weaved similar paths with their superheroes and villains suffering from existential angst, but it’s done with charm and most importantly, humour.

Whether it be the pithy one liners, the incongruity of a villain developing a heart, or the enjoyable parody of the Superman story, replete with Marlon Brando lookalike, there are plenty of laughs to be had.

Tina Fey voices the part of the hot shot reporter, clearly based on Lois Lane, who causes Megamind to rethink his ways. But the course of true love will, as ever, be far from smooth, especially when an even more villainous character (Jonah Hill) emerges.

Whilst the film won’t win prizes for originality, and some of the in-jokes may be lost on the very young, the animation is as well crafted as you’d expect from Dreamworks. And despite the rather distracting soundtrack of 80s rock songs, the film manages to sustain the entertainment levels until the final credits roll.

Skyline

A bit late this week, but another of my film reviews appeared in the Free Press last week. The difference was the word count was lowered from 300-350 words to just 150 words. I found this quite difficult as there’s really not a huge amount you can say in that space. Still, it’s a good job I wasn’t reviewing Everything You Wanted To Know About Sex (But Were Afraid To Ask) as the title would almost have taken up 10% of the word count itself!

Anyway, the review is below. I didn’t think much of the film, and I think I could have done better with the review too – it didn’t flow very well, which is perhaps something to do with the limited word count – I clearly need to learn to be pithy and concise in an eloquent way.

As an old-style alien invasion B-movie, Skyline enjoys the benefit of spectacular visuals, utilising computer-generated effects that would have been unthinkable on the same low budget just a few years ago.

The effects, however, remain the film’s high point. The human characters that populate the story are cardboard thin, fairly unpleasant, and so undeserving of our empathy that you find yourself siding with the marauding intruders.

The film itself feels derivative. You spend half the time thinking “There’s a bit from Independence Day, a bit from District 9” and so on. However, the filmmakers do nothing new with the genre, and the resulting film feels like watching a firework display in the company of thoroughly objectionable spectators.

If you want a thought-provoking, character-driven drama, steer away from Skyline. If, however, you want to turn your brain off for 90 minutes for some effects-laden schlock, then it’s diverting enough for a Friday night.

(152 words)

150 words is less than you might think!