It has been a long time since I’ve come out of a movie feeling as good as I did coming out of Megamind. It isn’t a perfect movie, though I wouldn’t change a thing, and there are plotholes to be had, but the whole thing was enjoyable, front to back.
Now, I know it’s the popular thing to rag on Dreamworks, but personally I love Dreamworks. With only a couple of exceptions(Cars, The Incredibles) I’ve enjoyed Pixar movies as art, but found them lacking. Dreamworks movies are fun, they take chances and don’t hold back. Well, when they aren’t being completely stupid that is. Well, even when they being stupid they still try to put out the extra effort.
Megamind is, at its heart, a movie about destiny. The movie starts off with the title character being sent off into the universe not knowing what his destiny is supposed to be, and ends up deciding that his destiny is to be a villain after repeatedly being ostracized at school. He clings to this destiny, until the movie’s events force him to reevaluate it. Pretty much every major character has a Screw Destiny moment. The movie also makes an interesting comment on nature verse nurture right at the beginning – Metroman ends up in the lap of luxury, but his parents are rather neglectful, while Megamind had a whole prison full of attentive caregivers[1. It's my own theory that he was adopted by the Warden, and then just ended up spending all his time at the prison because the Warden didn't know what else to do.].
I also appreciated how the ending does not compromise Megamind’s character. He’s still himself when the credits roll, when it would have been so easy for Dreamworks to take a more Hollywood-accepted way out. He wins on his own merits – being smart, resourceful, and adorkable.
Visually the movie has Dreamswork’s signature style. It’s also impressively detailed, especially in the background water and explosion effects. I saw it in 3D because there were no other available showings, and while the 3D was fairly well done it did give me a headache in places because my eyes couldn’t focus on all the little things floating about the screen. I absolutely love the soundtrack, which go figure – Hans Zimmer! I should start basing which movies I go to see on which ones he’s worked on. Another jawdropper from the credits(and why it is always a good idea to watch all the credits) – apparently Guillermo del Toro was a creative consultant for this movie! Knowing that I can see his influence.
Funny, sharp, and thoroughly entertaining. This movie was exactly what I’d hoped it would be[2. Doctor Horrible envisioned by Dreamworks.]. It’s the first movie in awhile that I’d be happy to see multiple times, back to back. It’s become a sort of movie version of an ear worm for me, capturing my imagination and making me want to play with its action figures. If that’s not a recommendation, then I don’t know what is.
Kick it.