 | 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. |
Megamind
- Review Date: November 2, 2010
- PG
- Genre: Family and Kids
- 2010
Common Sense Media says
Clever animated superhero story is fun, not too scary.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this animated comedy flips the typical superhero formula on its head by focusing on supervillain Megamind (voiced by Will Ferrell), who doesn't quite know what to do with himself after the fall of his arch-rival supehero (Brad Pitt). Overall, the movie is age-appropriate for young grade-schoolers and up. There's one scene in which a character's supposed skeleton is shown and his death alleged, but other than that, the violence is all quite cartoonish and not particularly realistic or scary, and the 3-D isn't as intense as it is in some other animated movies. The language is also quite tame ("butt" and that sort of thing), but there's some romantic tension, and a couple holds hands, flirts, and eventually kisses. Most little kids won't understand the movie's general theme that good can't exist without evil and vice versa, but it's a fascinating concept to introduce to older children. Special note: Parents of younger kids should know that characters in the movie state that the Tooth Fairy and the Easter Bunny don't exist.
What's the story?
As a baby, supervillain MEGAMIND (voiced by Will Ferrell) was sent to Earth, Superman-style, on the very same day as his arch-rival, Metro Man (Brad Pitt). But while Metro Man lands under a rich couple's Christmas tree, Megamind ends up in a prison and is raised by convicts. After many years of rivalry, Megamind breaks out of jail on the day that Metro City is dedicating an entire museum in Metro Man's honor. With the help of his alien Minion (David Cross), Megamind ruins the ceremonies by kidnapping popular TV reporter Roxanne Ritchi (Tina Fey), whom he secretly loves. Then the unthinkable happens: Megamind succeeds in killing off Metro Man. Instead of reveling in his newfound power, Megamind eventually grows bored and purposeless and decides to create and train a new superhero he can battle. But once the new "hero," Titan (Jonah Hill), proves that he has no intention of using his powers for good, Megamind must figure out how to be a hero or risk losing Roxanne -- and Metro City -- forever.
Is it any good?
Ferrell is a gifted comedian, and his voice acting is fabulous. His hilariously affected pronunciations -- he calls Metro City "MeTROcity," as if it rhymes with "Monstrosity," and says melancholy as "meLANcholy" -- and his earnest banter with Fey's Roxanne prove early on that he's a hero trapped in a villain's body. Pitt, meanwhile, doesn't have much to do except convince viewers that his voice belongs to the kind of shiny superhero who can juggle smiling babies and reduce the women in town to tears with the merest glimpse of his dimpled grin. Not a hard job to do -- when you're Brad Pitt! Cross and Hill are amusing as sidekick and nemesis, respectively, but the all-star cast can't make up for the fact that the story falls a bit flat after Metro Man is defeated. Part of it is the boredom that Megamind feels, but another part is just slow -- even if there are plenty of laughs.
The music, for example, is a cliched playlist of rock favorites like Back in Black, Highway to Hell, and Welcome to the Jungle. All are great classics, but haven't we already heard them in plenty of other movies? Considering how original the Pharrell WIlliams soundtrack was on the similarly themed Despicable Me, these predictable (albeit instantly recognizable) choices seemed lazily selected. And that's the movie's overall problem: It's fun and funny, but it's not remarkable. It's not the kind of animated movie that will inspire Halloween costumes or repeat viewings on the family room DVD player.
Explore, discuss, enjoy
Families can talk about the nature of good and evil. Do all superheroes need a supervillain nemesis? What happens after the hero is eliminated (or even the villain)? Can a hero exist in the absence of evil, and vice versa?
Metro Man says everyone has a choice whether to be the hero or not. Do you think that's true?
Can you think of other heroes who are different from the usual type? What are some examples?
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Parent of 6, 9, and 12 year old
November 26, 2010
AGE
So many wrong messages in this movie Bullying,...
My husband and I went to watch it without the children just to make sure it was appropriate. After the first five minutes, we decided this was not a good movie for our children. There are many parts of the story that even this website blew right past. Here goes my list of problems: 1) Bullying is appropriate and accepted behavior and never punished. 2) Being bad because that's what your good at is accepted. 3) Becoming the "good guy" because the new "bad guy" is not as bad as you were. 4) Heroes "quitting the business" because they are tired of helping other people and want to live for themselves. 5) The humor in it is exactly what I would expect from people who write for SNL. It's sad that no one is paying attention to any of these subjects that are so negative. Sorry Will Ferrell, but I will not take me kids to see this movie.
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Kid, 10 years old
December 21, 2010
AGE
Cute movie!
This was an awesome movie! I really loved and wouldn't mind seeing it again. It's animated and fun and shows teamwork, although it also depicts that what's the point of being bad when you can be good? Make sure to discuss this with younger kids before watching it. There is one very long kissing scene, but in the end it has a Disney-happy ending and all is well. Even interests and cracks up adults.
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Teen, 14 years old
May 25, 2011
AGE
Terrible! Don't see this film, unless, if your your child is under 12!
Megamind is a terrible idea for a movie to see. The plot is predictable ,the performances are lame, and there is no entertainment in this movie. I am 14 years old, and I think that this film was too predictable, silly, and kiddie. This is not an entertaining film, instead it is a terrible idea for choice for a movie for families to see. It's perfect for young kids and toddlers, and might be entertaining for some young tweens(10-12 years old),but for teenagers this is a terrible, silly, predictable, unoriginal, and just plain BAD of a movie! Perfect for young kids and some tweenagers to see, but not for teenagers too see.
Overall, it's perfect fro young kids&tweenagers,but not for the teens to see.
Grade: F On for kids 6+, this movie does have some action that may frighten some young kids, but its silly kid humor, and short runtime will entertain lots of young kids while their mothers do their work.. The young kids&tweenagers will want to see this and they should, but its a skip it for the teenagers!
Overall Grade: F and an on for 6+! Let Ur young kids and tweens see this movie!
What other families should know:
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Parent of 3 and 5 year old
November 24, 2010
AGE
Really loved the movie. Very adorable and my 4 and 5 year old giggled and danced through it and really enjoyed it. There were a few things I was dismayed about for their age. Some of the song selections (even though they did technically stop the song before it said h*ll) and the villain yelling that there was no Easter bunny or tooth fairy seemed inappropriate for a children's movie.
Overall great message and very cute. Not too violent- all done very cartoonish and laughy. Most appropriate for 6+ I think but still ok for 4 and 5 with some caution.
What other families should know:
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Parent of 6, 8, and 16 year old
November 5, 2010
AGE
I thought this movie was a charming and witty take on super-heroes and villians which turned the table on some of the genre's tropes. Most of the satire and romance went right over my first and second graders'; heads, but they enjoyed the action and the slapstick. The voice work was great across the board. Ferrell had more depth than he usually does in his live-action roles. I think older children might want to discuss why Megamind is able to turn his life around while Tighten is corrupted by power. Does it all really hinge on the love of a good woman or is it what's inside that makes the difference?
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Kid, 8 years old
April 14, 2011
AGE
Okay But A Man Says Ass And At First It Seems That Metroman Has Died And Metroman Juggles Babies
What other families should know:
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Parent of 6 and 9 year old
November 24, 2010
AGE
A fun evening for kids and parents.
We took our 9 year old son and 6 year old daughter to Megamind in 3D, and we all had a very good time. Not as well paced as one of the best Pixar movies, but very funny, definitely original, some excellent plot twists, and a very good and subtly presented message about the uses of talent and intelligence. No potty humor, and I've seen worse violence in Tom and Jerry cartoons. The six year old was not scared at any point (she came to sit on my lap during Toy Story 3).
There is a lot of affection and respect expressed in relationships as well, including the close relationship between Megamind and Minion - it isn't just a master-servant relationship, they love each other, and don't desert each other when it counts. Roxanne is a good down-to-earth female character, hard to shake up, with plenty of brains and nerve that she makes use of on her own. She doesn't fall in love with power, strength, or flash, she falls in love with character and personality. Megamind respects her and even begs for her advice.
Lots of great visuals and music too, it's a spectacle worth seeing in a theater. I don't know that the 3D adds that much, but I felt that way about Avatar too.
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Parent of 3 year old
November 8, 2010
AGE
He wasn't at all scared, and I totally enjoyed it
Our son, who's actually age 3, isn't scared by much. I thought Megamind was a LOT less violent than, say, the Incredibles. There's 2 more significant fighting scenes, mainly in the near-beginning and the end. Given that (and his interest in superheros and specifically, ahem, fighting), I was surprised that he was engrossed throughout.
I was happily surprised to be completely entertained myself (not like that was the main objective, but a great side benefit) by pop culture references and the 80s rock music.
Like the Common Sense review says, I think 90% of it flew right over his head, but afterwards we talked about it and he knew that Megamind *chose* to be good and to help protect people.
It was funny to my husband and I, and we haven't heard a peep of concern from him, or witnessed any battle reenactments. (Unlike, say, when he catches part of a "real" superhero scene on TV.)
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Parent of 5 year old
November 7, 2010
AGE
e.g.Okay for 7 and up but still sends a very mixed message
While at the end of the move Mega Mind became a good guy, it was a very dark route to get him there. And even then when we asked our 5 year old why he decided to be a good guy, he said it was so the girl would like him. It made being the bad guy seem fun and cool with the rock anthems and rock star type entrances. We made it into a teachable moment but our son kept telling us that Mega Mind was funny and he was a funny bad guy. So good he was not scary but not so good that he was a lovable bad guy.
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Teen, 14 years old
May 9, 2011
AGE
I REALLY liked Megamind. It's a funny movie without any rude humor which I can't stand. Even my older brother really liked it and he's picky with animated movies. ;)
Roxanne was a good role model, and the movie did have a good message or two.
Overall, this movie is great.
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| Topics: | superheroes, adventures, space and aliens |
| Studio: | DreamWorks Animation |
| Director: | Tom McGrath |
| Cast: | Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill, Tina Fey, Will Ferrell |
| Genre: | Family and Kids |
| Run time: | 96 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | November 5, 2010 |
| DVD release date: | February 22, 2011 |
| MPAA rating: | PG |
| MPAA explanation: | action and some language |
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