1. Monsters vs. Aliens Cast, Crew, Story, Theme, Review Muse-En-Scene, Life Connections

2. When a mysterious alien robot lands on Earth and begins storming the country. In a moment of desperation, the President is persuaded to enlist the motley crew of Monsters to combat the Alien Robot and save the world from imminent destruction. PG (for sci-fi action, some crude humor and mild language) MONSTERS VS. ALIENS ©2009 DreamWorks Animation. Review © David Bruce

3. REESE WITHERSPOON voices Susan Murphy, a.k.a. Ginormica REESE WITHERSPOON voices Susan Murphy, a.k.a. Ginormica  Walk the Line  Legally Blonde  Four Christmases  Election MONSTERS VS. ALIENS ©2009 DreamWorks Animation. Review © David Bruce Interesting: Reese is only five feet, and plays a five-story monster

4. SETH ROGEN voices B.O.B. SETH ROGEN voices B.O.B.  Observe and Report  Kung Fu Panda  Knocked Up  Superbad MONSTERS VS. ALIENS ©2009 DreamWorks Animation. Review © David Bruce

5. WILL ARNETT voices The Missing Link WILL ARNETT voices The Missing Link  G-Force  When in Rome  Semi-Pro  Blades of Glory MONSTERS VS. ALIENS ©2009 DreamWorks Animation. Review © David Bruce

6. RAINN WILSON voices Gallaxhar RAINN WILSON voices Gallaxhar  The Office  The Rocker  My Super Ex-Girlfriend  Almost Famous MONSTERS VS. ALIENS ©2009 DreamWorks Animation. Review © David Bruce

7. HUGH LAURIE voices Dr. Cockroach, Ph.D. HUGH LAURIE voices Dr. Cockroach, Ph.D.  House  Sense and Sensibility  Flight of the Phoenix  Stuart Little MONSTERS VS. ALIENS ©2009 DreamWorks Animation. Review © David Bruce

8. The Directors (Lto R) ROB LETTERMAN and CONRAD VERNON MONSTERS VS. ALIENS ©2009 DreamWorks Animation. Review © David Bruce

9. THE INSPIRATION CAME FROM SHREK "I was in Cannes for 'Shrek 2,' and I was looking over an early draft of the project. I saw that it had an element of a 1950s 'B' movie, which I had never before seen in animation. I thought that was a really interesting concept to tackle and how great it would be if we could give this gang of misfit Monsters personalities, and satirize those kinds of films at the same time.” -- CONRAD VERNON, director MONSTERS VS. ALIENS ©2009 DreamWorks Animation. Review © David Bruce

10. When California girl Susan Murphy (REESE WITHERSPOON) is unwittingly clobbered by a meteor full of outer space gunk on her wedding day, she mysteriously grows to 49-feet-11-inches tall. MONSTERS VS. ALIENS ©2009 DreamWorks Animation. Review © David Bruce

11. The military jumps into action and Susan is captured and put into a secret government compound. MONSTERS VS. ALIENS ©2009 DreamWorks Animation. Review © David Bruce

12. There, she is renamed Ginormica and held along with a ragtag group of Monsters: Dr. Cockroach, Ph.D, The Missing Link, B.O.B, and Insectosaurus. MONSTERS VS. ALIENS ©2009 DreamWorks Animation. Review © David Bruce

13. Their confinement is cut short, however, when a mysterious alien robot lands on Earth and begins storming the country. MONSTERS VS. ALIENS ©2009 DreamWorks Animation. Review © David Bruce

14. In a moment of desperation, The President (STEPHEN COLBERT) is persuaded to enlist the motley crew of Monsters to combat the alien robot and save the world from imminent destruction. MONSTERS VS. ALIENS ©2009 DreamWorks Animation. Review © David Bruce

15. POSTER ART INFLUENCE Not only were Letterman and Vernon enormous fans of the 50s monster and alien B films, they were also heavily influenced by the style of the poster art of the genre. MONSTERS VS. ALIENS ©2009 DreamWorks Animation. Review © David Bruce

16. UNREAL + REAL = BETTER COMEDY Monsters vs. Aliens began design life a bit more comic, but along the way the settings underwent an overall change and became more reality-based. Production designer David James: "Silly things are not quite as silly when they take place in silly environments.” MONSTERS VS. ALIENS ©2009 DreamWorks Animation. Review © David Bruce

17. 70% Positive Consensus voice: A big, silly spoof of an animated film, fast and funny and visually dazzling. -- Tom Long, Detroit News MONSTERS VS. ALIENS ©2009 DreamWorks Animation. Review © David Bruce

18. Central Issue Have FUN! MONSTERS VS. ALIENS ©2009 DreamWorks Animation. Review © David Bruce

19. MONSTERS VS. ALIENS is not a serious film. And, so what? It’s just pure fun! Woody Allen, summed up not having fun this way, “Most of the time I don't have much fun. The rest of the time I don't have any fun at all.” Such a life would be depressing. I like to think of not having fun as being possessed by the anti-fun demon. It needs to be cast out. Amen. The fun nature of the Creator can be seen in the platypus duckbill, dolphins, and lady bugs (or in the strange creatures in this film). Life should be enjoyed. Laughing is good medicine. All this to say that, here is a film that is simply a lot of fun and well worth the ticket price. MONSTERS VS. ALIENS ©2009 DreamWorks Animation. Review © David Bruce

20. Reese Witherspoon: "I think this is a great movie for people to see. I know my kids are gonna love it. I can't wait 'til they get to see it. It's got great stuff boys like, action and adventure, but it's also got this great message for girls, about really finding your true self, what you really value about yourself. But it's also fun and funny--it's something for everyone, I think." MONSTERS VS. ALIENS ©2009 DreamWorks Animation. Review © David Bruce

21. Comedy is simply a funny way of being serious. --Peter Ustinov MONSTERS VS. ALIENS ©2009 DreamWorks Animation. Review © David Bruce