Blu-ray Review: Megamind

The question of whether the existence of a superhero necessarily leads to the existence of a supervillain is not exactly new to the super-people genre.  However, it may never have been dealt with in quite as fun and amusing a way as it is within the DreamWorks' animated comedy Megamind. 

Directed by Tom McGrath (Madagascar), Megamind is a satiric take on the superhero genre, focusing—as has been done occasionally but certainly not with regularity—on the villain, in this case, the titular Megamind (voiced by Will Ferrell).  Opening with a spin on the Superman legend, this feature starts off with Megamind leaving his about-to-be-destroyed home planet as a baby, right around the same time that another alien child is leaving his planet for the same reasons.  Unfortunately for our villain, this other child—who grows up to be known as the superhero Metro Man (Brad Pitt)—bumps poor Megamind into a prison while taking for himself a posh, comfortable upbringing, all of which leads Megamind to a life of supervillainy. 

The film really turns everything about the genre on its head early on when Megamind actually succeeds in defeating Metro Man and is left with that ultimate question about what to do next.  The screenplay by Alan J. Schoolcraft and Brent Simons is not only highly amusing, but intelligent as well.  Both Megamind and Metro Man recognize their yin-yang-ness, that one cannot happily exist without the other to play off of.  Of course, with Metro Man gone, Megamind, after growing bored with life, opts to create a new superhero so that he will again have a purpose. 

Things don’t go hugely well with that villainous plot though and rather than choosing a worthy human to become his enemy, he ends up saddled with Hal Stewart (Jonah Hill), a camera man for the local news who has been smitten by reporter Roxanne Richie (Tina Fey) for ages.  Richie is the Lois Lane of the tale, the oft kidnapped by Megamind, oft rescued by Metro Man, damsel in distress who still manages to file a report no matter the catastrophe befalling her.

Article Author: Josh Lasser

Josh Lasser, formerly known as "TV and Film Guy," and complete with a Masters Degree in Critical Studies in said areas, gives his opinions on TV, Film, and Entertainment in general. All of which he does in a shameless attempt to try to get paid to do the exact same thing. …

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