Megamind

Director: Tom McGrath

Cast: Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, David Cross, Jonah Hill, Ben Stiller & Brad Pitt

2:2

by Alex Towers

Coming soon after the enjoyable Despeciable Me is another Dreamworks Animation film about a villain who learns about the benefits of being good. However while Megamind is by no means original (The Incredibles is also a blatant influence), it’s certainly exciting and funny three-dimensional fun.

Will Ferrell voices the eponymous lead, a diabolical alien super-villain with an enormous blue head whose life’s purpose is to eliminate his gloating rival Metro Man (Brad Pitt), the heroic protector of Metro City. But when one of his nefarious plots to defeat Metro Man actually works, Megamind finds himself suddenly at a loose end.

Although nowhere near the Pixar pedigree and often too similar to previous films (such as producer Ben Stiller’s own Mystery Men), Megamind is nevertheless an diverting, well-made visual feast. The voice talents are particularly enjoyable, especially Tina Fey as a peppy reporter, Jonah Hill as her creepy cameraman and David Cross (Arrested Development’s Tobias Fünke) as Megamind’s best friend, Minion. Will Ferrell also gets room to show off- reprising the devious, highly strung voice he last used with Mugatu in Zoolander ten years ago. All of this means Megamind is a funny, but not hilarious, ninety-six minutes of glorious 3D visual distraction.