| ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. | |
| PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. | |
| OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. | |
| NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Parents need to know that this short animated film that comes packaged with the Monsters vs. Aliens DVD combines the same goofy characters with conflict and cartoon violence that might be disturbing to very young children. Two creatures attempt to blow up their friend with a bomb. The trio fights against an evil military foe by throwing gelatinous blobs at him and engaging in angry (though funny) exchanges, and a jet goes up in flames. Viewers can choose 2-D or 3-D, and the latter cranks up the intensity.
In this offshoot of the CG-animated Monsters vs. Aliens, three characters -- B.O.B. (Seth Rogan), Dr. Cockroach (Hugh Laurie), and Missing Link (Will Arnett) -- attempt to escape their underground prison where they are watched over by General W.R. Monger (Kiefer Sutherland). When B.O.B. acquires mind-reading abilities after swallowing a bomb, Cockroach and Link use him to read Monger's mind and find escape methods.
The character of B.O.B. is hugely charming for all his clueless glee. His positive energy keeps the short film from turning too dark, and his mind-reading ability and general blobbiness is pretty funny. But the narrative arc is rather predictible, which is fine, but nothing to get too excited about.
Families can talk about using force. In the movie the monsters are trapped and use force against the general to find an escape. When is it OK to use your hands or your body to force someone to do something? Is the kind of violence in the movie realistic?
| Studio: | DreamWorks Animation |
| Directors: | Conrad Vernon, Rob Letterman |
| Cast: | Kiefer Sutherland, Seth Rogen, Will Arnett |
| Genre: | Family and Kids |
| Run time: | 20 minutes |
| DVD release date: | September 29, 2009 |
| MPAA rating: | NR |