Monsters vs. Aliens parents guide

Monsters vs. Aliens Parent Guide

It's only too bad the story has to use so many negative stereotypes, crude jokes and typical cartoon-type characters to get the positive message across.

Overall B-

The inhabitants of the Earth are in grave danger from an outer space visitor who announces his intention to annihilate everyone. Yet when the President looks for an army to combat the threat, he is surprised by the suggestion he use a group of strange creatures that have been collected over the years and held in a detention facility. But desperate times call for desperate measures, so it is decided the battle will be Monsters vs. Aliens.

Release date March 28, 2009

Violence C+
Sexual Content B
Profanity B-
Substance Use A-

Why is Monsters vs. Aliens rated PG? The MPAA rated Monsters vs. Aliens PG for sci-fi action, some crude humor and mild language.

Run Time: 95 minutes

Official Movie Site

Parent Movie Review

On the morning of her wedding, everything seems perfect in Susan Murphy’s (voice by Reese Witherspoon) life. Perfect that is until a meteorite from outer space lands on top of her. While the approach of the unidentified flying object sends scientists and military personnel scrambling from miles around, it doesn’t even appear to rattle the country chapel where Susan is about to marry a local anchorman (voice of Paul Rudd). The guests only begin to suspect something is out of the ordinary when Susan starts to outgrow her gown and pushes the bell out of the belfry with her now humungous head.

Rather than reciting her vows, Susan is taken down, tied up and hauled off by a swarm of soldiers to a secret location where she meets General W.R. Monger (voice by Keifer Sutherland) and a host of other “monsters” the army has under lock and key.

After being introduced to B.O.B (voice by Seth Rogan), Dr. Cockroach (voice by Hugh Laurie), and The Missing Link (voice by Will Arnett), Susan, now known as Ginormica, gets the feeling she is going to be confined for a very long time.

However when regular troops are unable to contain an alien robot that lands on Earth just a short time later, the U.S. president (voice by Stephen Colbert) agrees to let General Monger unleash the Monsters to fight the invaders. (Apparently the Commander-in-Chief’s attempt to welcome the extraterrestrial with the funky Axel F by Crazy Frog irritated the visitor, although it is entertaining for the audience.)

What follows is ramped up Saturday morning cartoon fare (albeit in amazing 3D animation). Under the direction of their evil leader Gallaxhar (voice by Rainn Wilson), thousands and thousands of clones prepare to descend from a hovering mother ship and take over the planet. The battles that ensue result in many moments of peril for the heroes and humans alike. Attacked by the alien robot on the Golden Gate Bridge, Susan is forced to fight off his advances while ensuring that stranded motorists make it safely to the other side.

Unfortunately many of these encounters, such as air strikes, explosions, and missiles and monsters under attack, may be too intense for young audience members. As well, the script contains unnecessary amounts of potty humor, a vulgar term for female anatomy and a security measure than requires the individual scans of various body parts including a thumbprint, iris and bare buttock.

While the transformation from regular human to supersized disrupts Susan’s nuptials, it also proves to be an empowering and revealing experience for the large lady. Given a new perspective on life, she gets a glimpse of what it is like to be an outsider in society. Yet she also experiences real friendship and learns the value of teamwork. It’s only too bad the story has to use so many negative stereotypes, crude jokes and typical cartoon-type characters to get that positive message across.

Starring Reese Witherspoon, Hugh Laurie, Will Arnett, Seth Rogen, Rainn Wilson. Running time: 95 minutes. Theatrical release March 28, 2009. Updated

Monsters vs. Aliens
Rating & Content Info

Why is Monsters vs. Aliens rated PG? Monsters vs. Aliens is rated PG by the MPAA for sci-fi action, some crude humor and mild language.

Susan’s life changes when a meteorite hits her on her wedding day. In addition to growing several stories tall, she is attacked by soldiers, tranquilized, tied up and imprisoned at a secure site. Later she is chased by aliens, as well as hit, pushed, and nearly crushed by a robot. Battles between humans and aliens include guns, missiles, bombs and the threat of nuclear weapons. Other characters are crushed, dropped, injured or ingested by a blob-like figure. A robot is decapitated by a bridge support beam. Armed clones prepare to invade the planet. A large ship explodes in mid-air. A helicopter crashes and burns. A man slaps a girl who later rescues him after he breaks an ankle. Buildings, vehicles, and a bridge are destroyed. The script contains infrequent mild profanities, a vulgar term for female anatomy and other mild crude humor. Agents pass through a security measure than includes a scan of their bare buttocks. A man soils his pants. A character is given a wedgie.

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Monsters vs. Aliens Parents' Guide

If Earth were visited by extraterrestrials, how do you think they would respond to the kind of welcome the aliens receive in this movie? Why do most movies portray space visitors as being invaders?

In this film, how does the general public feel about monsters? How does our society often respond to individuals who appear to be different than the general norm?

Home Video

The most recent home video release of Monsters vs. Aliens movie is September 29, 2009. Here are some details…

Release Date: 29 September 2009

Monsters vs. Aliens on DVD (Single Disc) is presented in widescreen, with audio tracks in Dolby Digital 5.1 (English, French and Spanish) and Dolby Digital 2.0 (English). Subtitles are available in English, French and Spanish. Bonus materials include:

- Featurette: Modern Monster Movie Making and The Tech of Monsters VS. Aliens

- Deleted Scenes: Monger’s Plan, War Room Turns on Monsters and If You Don’t Know.

- DWA Music Video Juke Box

- Filmmaker Commentary

- Sneak Peeks: How To Train Your Dragon, Shrek The Musical, Kung Fu Panda World, The Penguins of Madagascar, Shrek The Halls and Secrets of the Furious Five.

- Activision Game trailer for Monsters VS. Aliens

Monsters vs Aliens [Ginormous Double DVD Pack (2 discs) is presented in widescreen, with audio tracks in Dolby Digital 5.1 (English, French and Spanish) and Dolby Digital 2.0 (English). Subtitles are available in English, French and Spanish. Ginormous extras include:

- Featurette: Modern Monster Movie Making and The Tech of Monsters VS. Aliens

- Deleted Scenes: Monger’s Plan, War Room Turns on Monsters and If You Don’t Know.

- DWA Music Video Juke Box

- Filmmaker Commentary

- Sneak Peeks: How To Train Your Dragon, Shrek The Musical, Kung Fu Panda World, The Penguins of Madagascar, Shrek The Halls and Secrets of the Furious Five.

- Activision Game trailer for Monsters VS. Aliens

- B.O.B.‘S Big Break (in 3D & 2D)

Other Features: Karaoke Music Party and Paddle Ball Game in Monster 3D

- DVD-Rom: Activision Game demo for Monsters VS. Aliens (with cheat code)

- Creature Feature Fun Factory

- Kung Fu Panda World

- Shrekster.com

- MonstersVsAliens.com

- DreamWorksAnimation.com

- Four pairs of 3-D glasses

Monsters vs Aliens on Blu-ray offers audio tracks in Dolby TrueHD 5.1 (English) and Dolby Digital 5.1 (Spanish and French). Extras include:

- Featurette: Modern Monster Movie Making and The Tech of Monsters VS. Aliens

- Deleted Scenes: Monger’s Plan, War Room Turns on Monsters and If You Don’t Know.

- DWA Music Video Juke Box

- Filmmaker Commentary

- Sneak Peeks: How To Train Your Dragon, Shrek The Musical, Kung Fu Panda World, The Penguins of Madagascar, Shrek The Halls and Secrets of the Furious Five.

- Activision Game trailer for Monsters VS. Aliens

- B.O.B.‘S Big Break (in 3D & 2D)

Other Features: Karaoke Music Party and Paddle Ball Game in Monster 3D

- DVD-Rom: Activision Game demo for Monsters VS. Aliens (with cheat code)

- Creature Feature Fun Factory

- Kung Fu Panda World

- Shrekster.com

- MonstersVsAliens.com

- DreamWorksAnimation.com

- Four pairs of 3-D glasses

- Animators’ Corner Picture-In-Picture

- Trivia Track

- Four pairs of 3-D glasses

Related home video titles:

In the movie, Monsters, Inc., Sulley and his friend Mike Wazawski are two scary creatures that work at a power company powered by the screams of children. Likely one of the best-known aliens to ever visit earth is the little space visitor that shows up in E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial.