When bride-to-be Susan Murphy (Reese Witherspoon) is hit by a meteor and grows to be almost 50 feet tall, the government dubs her "Ginormica," locks her away as a monster, and then sets her free to fight the aliens who have come to take over Earth.
DreamWorks uses 3-D for all it's worth in this animated adventure that will have young viewers laughing, reaching out for chunks of meteor being hurled at them, and ducking as a red paddleball aims straight for their head. The story itself has far less dimension than the dazzling effects, although it's empowering for girls to see a female hero tower over the boys--both literally and figuratively. It's unlikely the movie will have the same impact on DVD, so bring the family to see it in IMAX for an experience that's fun, a technical feat, and definitely in your face.
This movie is intended for older children.
The movie is probably too intense for very young children, who will fidget with the 3-D glasses and may find the sight of the Golden Gate Bridge being destroyed right in front of their eyes too disturbing. Five-year-olds are likely to be awestruck by the 3-D effects and will love feeling like they're right in the middle of the action!
Kids will be fascinated by Ginormica's peers, especially the lovable--and confused--gelatinous blob named B.O.B., who flirts with a Jello mold and is just a big hugger. They'll think it's hilarious when he tries to convince the others Susan is a boy, saying "look at his boobies!" Girls will find it empowering that Susan finally leaves her ex-fiance in the dust after realizing how selfish he is, and announces, "I'm not going to shortchange myself ever again."
Even though many tweens think they've outgrown these animated movies, they may still want to see this one for the 3-D effects. Older kids may actually enjoy the sci-fi references and Susan's personal stories. They'll realize that sometimes you have to get hit by a meteor in order to see the truth.
