April 17,2009 | The Clarion
— Lifestyles
'Monsters vs. Aliens' is feminist family fun
by Dabney Farmer
Staff Writer
• pN
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Monsters vs. Aliens,” a new 3-D ani
mated feature from DreamWorks
Animation, begins with Susan
Murphy (Reese Witherspoon), on
her wedding day and set to marry
egomaniacal weatherman Derek,
voiced by Paul Rudd, getting hit
by a meteor that causes her to grow
several stories tall and turns her
hair white.
The government then puts her in quaran
tine with several other monsters voiced by
an all-star cast. There’s Bob (Seth Rogen),
a blob accidently created from a genetically
altered tomato ranch dressing. He has no
brain, and it shows, as he Confuses Susan
with a boy when he see her (“It's a boy; look
at his boobies!”)
Hugh Laurie is Dr Cockroach, a mad
scientist who tried to give himself a cock
roach’s ability to survive radio blasts but
ended up with the head of a cockroach as a
side effect -which comes in handy because
some of his experiments don’t work, often
ending with him blowing himself up. Luck
ily, cockroaches can survive anything.
Will Arnett is the missing link as a half
fish, half-ape creature who acts like an
out-of shape jock. And Corad Vernon is
Insatores, a giant grub who is even bigger
than Susan and easily distracted by bright
lights.
At first Susan is scared of the other mon
sters (she tries to smash Dr. Cockroach
several times when she first sees him), but
she warms up to them fast, although she still
wants to shrink back to her normal size to
be with Derek. When they are allowed to
leave in order to stop an ahen who has sent
a robot to terrorize San Francisco, Susan
takes charge of the situation, impressing her
monster friends.
But Derek is not impressed and breaks
up with her saying he doesn’t want to be in
anyone’s shadow, and Susan has a very big
shadow now. Susan then realizes she doesn’t
need Derek to be happy, because, hey, look
at what’s she’s accomphshed on her own.
giant alien robot?
When Susan briefly losses her power she
fears she can’t help the world any longer,
but her monster peers assure her she’s stiU
How many women can say they took on a
a very dynamic woman, big or not. Who
would have thought that a movie involving
monsters fighting aliens would have such a
feminist touch to it?
I g.: I -mi
Brevard College
SPRING FOOTBALL GAME
FUNORAISEB
Saturday, April 18,2009 at 0 p.m.
Brevard Memorial Stadium
*Kids Day starts at 2:30
(Include sport instruction, fun activities, & food)
Registration avaiiabie oniine
Premier Spring Game Tickets available: $25
(Includes Fine Dining Giveaway: $1,000 of restaurant gift certificates will be given away)
General Admission: $10 for Adults
Free Admission to Children and Students
(Proceeds to Benefit All BC Athletic Programs)
Tickets are available at the following locations:
Mountain 1st Banl, Brigliter Day Coffee & Sports Spot or attlie Brevard College
Athletics Offices (828) 884-8276
For more information, go to www.BCTornados.com or call the Brevard Athletics
Department at (828) 884-8276