Megamind (2010)

Megamind is good children’s media. While being refreshingly not entirely predictable on the level of plot, the movie also manages to deliver ongoing punch lines that go way beyond expectations in terms of variety of types and levels of humor.

Visually speaking, 3-D is used tastefully and sparingly, pretty much just doing what it’s supposed to—adding helpful depth cues to what would otherwise be a slightly less accessible visual world. Characters are (obviously) cartoonish, yet the expressiveness of the faces of humans and aliens alike makes me think Dreamworks is consciously taking steps in the right direction in terms of character design. Fantasy remains central while emotions ready to be identified with are easily conveyed.

Bonus points for minimal bodily function jokes. Double bonus points for Will Ferrell’s reigned-in performance of an over-the-top character who might not be that odd after all.

Overall worth the extra bucks to see it in theaters.

Yay!