Review: Megamind

I was reluctant to see Megamind at first because I'm not a fan of animated movies. I always tend to look for complexity in their story and forget that they are largely produced to please kids. As a result, I get disappointed most of the time, since animated films aren't always made like that.

That's why at this point, I'm not that eager to watch movies of that kind anymore. Blame it on the bar that was set so high by brilliant animated films such as Meet The Robinsons, Wall·E, and Horton Hears A Who (my current favorite). They weren't just fun and technically impressive, but they were very insightful as well. It may seem that I demand too much, but with those aforementioned movies that took the genre to new heights, it's only right for one to expect that things will keep moving forward from then on.

So yeah, I ended up seeing it with my sister. It was my first time to watch a movie in 3D, actually (loser me). The whole thing was kind of accidental, but that doesn't matter. I'm gonna go straight to the movie review and why it's hanging on the disliked side.

Positive

• Brilliant voice work. I have nothing but praises for Will Ferrell (whom I don't really like) and the rest of the voice cast. I went to see the film not having a clue as to who the talents were, so when the credits rolled, I was pleasantly surprised.
• Superb animation. This met my expectations, and for me it's best redeeming quality of the film. There was never a dull moment, even during the "romantic" scenes. It's what kept me throughout the 96-minute run time.

• I didn't pay much attention to the other details, like lighting, sounds, and editing, but I think they were good, too. The animation couldn't have worked if these aspects were unsuccessful. They went unnoticed (in a positive sense) anyway, so I guess there was no harm done.

Negative

• As what I've said, there's not much depth in the story. Sure, it's a movie that kids will definitely dig. It has appealing characters, dazzling visuals, and amusing humor to keep them on their seats. However, it might not be the same for discerning adults, the part of the audience that's able to make criticisms.
• Second major flaw: it's quite unoriginal. The material was something I've encountered before. They had the chance to beef it up and make it unique, but they failed to tap a different angle. The plot was predictable for me, and that let me down real bad.

• I wasn't impressed by the 3D-ness of the film. I was like, that's it? They could've made it more exhilarating, but instead it just fell flat. I have nothing to compare it with since it's the first 3D film I've seen, so I guess that says something.
• And they really had to mock Obama. Ugh, it completely upset me! I'm sorry if I don't know the whole story, but I think it was unnecessary. Most people call it smart, but for the film to use a political joke to be deemed smart doesn't make it smart. And funny. It could've been okay if the whole plot was meant to be a satire, but it wasn't. And don't tell me that the movie was entirely intended to be seen by kids, because that part, sir, was obviously for grown-ups.

Coming from a country where films are sometimes made without much thought, I think I can say if a movie made it in the list. Well, for me, Megamind almost did. Why? Because I realized that to pinpoint the flaws of the story is to overlook the main purpose of making animated films, which is to entertain people. So I guess, the positive points outweigh the negative.

Sooooo, do I recommend it? Should people watch it? Sure, if we don't look at movies in the same way.

Rating: 3/5 stars