Megamind, Mega-hilarious

Megamind (****)

Director: Tom McGrath

Starring: Will Ferrell, Jonah Hill, Tina Fey, and Brad Pitt

MPAA: Rated PG for action and some language

Mega-hilarious. Watching movies like this all way give me a good feeling. I feel like there is hope, that when my children want to watch a movie there are clean, decent films out there that are smart enough to keep me entertained along with my five-year-old.

This was kind of a Shrek meets The Incredibles type of film. Super Villain Megamind (Will Ferrell) and Super Hero Metro Man (Brad Pitt) duke it out on the streets of Metro City, flinging witty banter and steel poles at each other. They have had this relationship since they were babies. But when Megamind’s master plan succeeds, he finds himself in way over his large blue head.

Will Ferrell is a talent who squanders his time on hopeless garbage like Step Brothers, when it is better spent making family fun like Megamind. He really manages to make this a fun and rewarding film. I was surprised by some of the little twists that come up. In general the film was an uproarious reboot on the super hero film.

I highly recommend this film. It is intelligent and witty. The voice cast meshed with expert animation, and a humorous, and different plot, really carry this movie as a fun Saturday afternoon flick.

Disney's Tangled (****)

Tangled (****)

Director – Nathan Greno, Byron Howard

Starring – Mandy Moore, Zachary Levi, and Donna Murphy

PG - Rated PG for brief mild violence

Disney is back with a fun family feature that really does feel like the next classic. This is a computer animated film designed to charm the youngsters but still hold the adult’s attention. Tangled is a visual and an emotional treat. Enough twists and turns exist here to keep the audience’s attention, but the run time is short enough for kids not to have to run to the bathroom too many times. There is some exciting action, and some really beautiful singing; all combined to make a great twist on the Rapunzel tale we all grew up with.

In Tangled we find all the elements of the Disney classics (fun musical numbers, animals with more human traits than some of the humans, and of course a very different twist to the original fairy tale) combined with the now standard computer animation like Shrek and Toy Story. Tangled however sets a new standard for Disney, after the flop Princess and the Frog. It is official, the old animation is out, and computer graphics are here to stay.

Rapunzel is a four star treat to take the whole family to. There is nothing too scary, and nothing inappropriate for any age. Hurry to the theater while you still can!