Last year saw the release of two computer-animated films about
not-so-evil villains struggling to determine whether their dastardly
ambitions can ever bring them true fulfillment. I had hoped to catch
both Despicable Me and Megamind
in theaters, but I ended up settling for DVD. The former rose to the
top of my Netflix queue in early March, and I found it thoroughly
charming. This month, I got to check out Megamind, and I found it equally satisfying.
Despicable Me
aims at a younger audience, with more slapstick, a lead with a silly
accent and three young girls as the major secondary characters. The pull
of parenthood causes hunched, hook-nosed Gru to deviate from his plans,
and the theme of longing for a family makes it relatable viewing for
young and old alike. Megamind, on the other hand, is clearly
designed more for adults. Megamind is a bald, scrawny blue humanoid who
was launched toward Earth as an infant with an unknown destiny heavy
upon him. Barreling toward Earth right alongside him was the baby who
would grow up to become Metro Man, who looks like a typical human, only
burlier, more classically perfect. He had the privilege of a pampered
upbringing, while Megamind was raised in prison. All their lives, these
two aliens have been dodging each other, with Metro Man, adored hero of
Metro City, always just one step ahead. Until now.
Megamind
(Will Ferrell) has grown used to the routine of baiting Metro Man (Brad
Pitt) by kidnapping saucy reporter Roxanne (Tina Fey). None of his
predictable scare tactics faze her, and when the inevitable
confrontation comes, the nemeses’ quick banter conveys a sense that the
two are rather enjoying themselves. This is all little more than a game,
albeit a tired one. It’s a game Megamind gleefully schemes to win – but
when the dust from his latest encounter settles and he finds himself
the victor for a change, he realizes just how empty his life is without
his destructive goal to fall back on.
Megamind is a story
demonstrating the way that love can combat inhumane impulses, with
Roxanne filling a previously unnoticed void in the blue villain’s life
in much the same way as the orphans in Despicable Me. I often found myself reminded of Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog
as I watched. The obvious hero is narcissistic and more concerned with
adulation than the improvement of the city whose residents worship him.
The villain is cunning but clearly doesn’t have a strong taste for
violence. Compassion stirs within him at inconvenient times. In a
guileless guise, he befriends Roxanne and begins to wonder if his life
might be more worthwhile if he considered a different path. What is a
man to do when his purpose has been realized and the years stretch out
before him, full of terrifying possibility? It’s an existential
quandary.
Jonah Hill brings a slightly skeezy slacker vibe to
the role of Hal, Roxanne’s cameraman. At first he just seems like a
lovable chump who can’t get the girl embroiled in a world of
supernatural powers, but by the time Megamind decides to involve him in
his next big scheme, it’s apparent that this young man has a little
something extra, an indefinable quality that will make him stand out.
But will he play into the plan that Megamind has groomed him for, or
will he veer off-course? Other fairly major characters include bland
museum guard Bernard (Ben Stiller); the crusty prison warden (J. K.
Simmons) who knows Megamind all too well; and Minion (David Cross), an
extraterrestrial fish who was sent to be Megamind’s caretaker. Much of
the film’s comedy comes from these side characters.
The film has
a rather dark and foreboding quality to it, with many scenes of
ruination and cold technology. At times, the atmosphere almost reminded
me of The Dark Knight,
though the tone is never that oppressive. Nonetheless, this is a movie
that broods, so while I’m not sure I would deem it inappropriate for
children, I think adults will get the most out of it. In addition to the
somber reflections on finding meaning in a confusing world, the movie
offers homages to superhero and espionage conventions that will probably
be best appreciated by those with more extensive viewing experience.
For family film night, then, I would first recommend Despicable Me. But if you’re in the mood for something a little bit more adult-oriented, why not wrap your mind around Megamind?
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