Megamind

Theatrical Release Date: 2009 (USA) / 2010 11 05 (USA - IMAX) / 2010 11 05 (USA)

UPC: 097361329949

Studio: Dreamworks Animated

MPAA Rating: PG   Contains:[Mild Violence, Suitable for Children]

Summary: Notorious Metro City villian Megamind (voice of Will Ferrell) becomes an unlikely savior to the troubled metropolis after defeating beloved do-gooder Metro Man (voice of Brad Pitt) and creating a new opponent who refuses to play by the rules. Megamind was only an infant when his parents loaded him into an emergency escape pod and jettisoned him into space just as their planet was being sucked into a black hole. His destination: planet Earth. Meanwhile, another slightly more wholesome baby sets out on the same trajectory. But while the latter will ultimately land in the home of a wealthy couple and grow up to become Metro Man, hero of Metro City, poor Megamind finds his fate taking the opposite course when his pod crashes in a prison yard, leaving him to be raised by convicts. Later, in grade school, the kids all flock to Metro Man, leaving a frustrated Megamind to embrace a life of diabolical misdeeds. As the years go by, Metro Man and Megamind develop an intense adversarial relationship that pits them in battle over Metro City time and again. Undeterred by his unbroken losing streak, Megamind hatches an ingenious scheme to finally destroy Metro Man by kidnapping pretty reporter Roxanne Ritchi (voice of Tina Fey), and luring the predictable hero into a deadly trap. Then something unexpected happens -- Megamind�s plan actually works. Now, with Metro Man out of the picture, Megamind and his Minion (voice of David Cross) stake their claim on Metro City. But what good is ultimate power when you don�t even have to fight for it? Realizing that life is simply out of balance without Metro Man to be the hero, Megamind creates a new foe who will be just as righteous and powerful as his fallen adversary. Unfortunately, Megamind�s schemes usually have a way of backfiring, and when Metro City�s newest savior proves even more evil than Megamind, the blue-hued antihero prepares to fight back with everything he's got. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Category: Children's/Family

Features: cc
Behind the scenes with cast and crew

Megamind

Format: DVD

Release Date: 02/25/2011

Audio: DD5.1 Dolby Digital 5.1, DD2 Dolby Digital Stereo

Runtime: 96 Minutes

Sides: 1

Number of Discs: 1

Language(s) English,French,Spanish

Subtitles: English,French,Spanish

Region: USA & territories, Canada

Chapters: Disc #1 -- Megamind
1. Chapter 1 [6:19]
2. Chapter 2 [3:42]
3. Chapter 3 [5:54]
4. Chapter 4 [6:51]
5. Chapter 5 [5:10]
6. Chapter 6 [4:09]
7. Chapter 7 [6:51]
8. Chapter 8 [6:09]
9. Chapter 9 [3:07]
10. Chapter 10 [4:03]
11. Chapter 11 [4:12]
12. Chapter 12 [7:54]
13. Chapter 13 [5:42]
14. Chapter 14 [7:28]
15. Chapter 15 [8:11]

Jason Buchanan

It may have been just a fleeting thought, but any fan of superhero films is bound to have pondered precisely what Lex Luthor planned to do with all his power had he actually accomplished the unthinkable and defeated the Man of Steel. Screenwriters Alan Schoolcraft and Brent Simons certainly did, and they have plenty of fun toying with the possibilities in Megamind, an animated adventure comedy that plays just as well to grown-up movie geeks as it does to their wide-eyed minions.

Megamind (voice of Will Ferrell) was only an infant when his parents loaded him into an emergency escape pod and jettisoned him into space just as their planet was being sucked into a black hole. His destination: planet Earth. Meanwhile, another slightly more wholesome baby sets out on the same trajectory. But while the latter will ultimately land in the home of a wealthy couple and grow up to become Metro Man (voice of Brad Pitt), hero of Metro City, poor Megamind finds his fate taking the opposite course when his pod crashes in a prison yard, leaving him to be raised by convicts. Later, in grade school, the kids all flock to Metro Man, leaving a frustrated Megamind to embrace a life of diabolical misdeeds. As the years go by, Metro Man and Megamind develop an intense adversarial relationship that pits them in battle over Metro City time and again. Undeterred by his unbroken losing streak, Megamind hatches an ingenious scheme to finally destroy Metro Man by kidnapping pretty reporter Roxanne Ritchi (voice of Tina Fey), and luring the predictable hero into a deadly trap. Then something unexpected happens -- Megamind's plan actually works. Now, with Metro Man out of the picture, Megamind and his Minion (voice of David Cross) stake their claim on Metro City. But what good is ultimate power when you don't even have to fight for it? Realizing that life is simply out of balance without Metro Man to be the hero, Megamind creates a new foe who will be just as righteous and powerful as his fallen adversary. Unfortunately, Megamind's schemes usually have a way of backfiring, and when Metro City's newest savior proves even more evil than Megamind, the blue-hued antihero finds himself forced into battle with an opponent who doesn't play by the rules.

Great heroes and great villains go hand in hand; every caped crusader needs an arch nemesis to fight high above the crowded city streets, and no scoundrel is worth his weight in tears without a debonair do-gooder to scheme against. When that careful balance of power is upset, the entire comic-book universe goes supernova. Megamind screenwriters Schoolcraft and Simons have studied their superhero lore well, and in addition to understanding what makes places like Gotham City tick, they also know that the villain is often a far more compelling character than the hero. By creating the character of Megamind and then placing him in a vacuum of power, the screenwriters grant themselves license to subvert conventions in a way that's entertaining for older viewers weaned on DC and Marvel and highly enjoyable for the next crop of comic geeks, thanks to some clever references and memorable twists. Deconstruction can be tricky business, but much like one needn't have ever seen a slasher film to enjoy Wes Craven's Scream, Megamind works just as well as a playful postmodern jab as it does a fast-paced antihero comedy that's fun for viewers of all ages.

Given Ferrell's unique vocal range and his penchant for going over the top, it's a bit of a surprise that his voice-over credits are somewhat few and far between. His manic delivery helps to give the character of Megamind a certain confidence that's easily crippled, a trait that makes him increasingly endearing as he gradually becomes the reluctant savior of Metro City. Brad Pitt, on the other hand, is essentially wasted in the role of Metro Man, though supporting players Fey, Cross, and Jonah Hill all seem to be having a blast behind the mic.

Megamind is a movie designed primarily to entertain, not educate. Given the prominent use of AC/DC's "Highway to Hell" in the trailers and commercials for the film, it should be obvious to parents that the focus of Megamind is more on the action and comedy than it is on the titular character learning any important life lessons. So, while the storyline is constructed around a positive concept about taking control of your own fate and realizing when you've inadvertently taken mischief a bit too far, it's the thrilling battle scenes and clever riffing on comic-book conventions that truly resonate. Between Megamind and Despicable Me, it's beginning to look like Hollywood has finally embraced the antihero in children's films. It should make for some intriguing discussions after the movie, and it will be interesting to trace the evolution of superhero stories once the latest crop of kids grow up and start penning their own screenplays. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Cast and Crew: Ben Stiller  Executive Producer 
Hans Zimmer  Composer (Music Score) 
Stuart Cornfeld  Executive Producer 
Denise Nolan Cascino  Producer 
Tom McGrath  Director 
Lorne Balfe  Composer (Music Score) 
Lara Breay  Producer 
Alan Schoolcraft  Screenwriter 
Brent Simons  Screenwriter 
Will Ferrell  Actor 
Brad Pitt  Actor 
Tina Fey  Actor 
Jonah Hill  Actor 
David Cross  Actor 
Ben Stiller  Actor 
Justin Theroux  Actor 
Jessica Schulte  Actor 
Tom McGrath  Actor 
Emily Nordwind  Actor 
J.K. Simmons  Actor 
Ella Olivia Stiller  Actor 
Quinlin Dempsey Stiller  Actor 
Brian Hopkins  Actor 
Christopher Knights  Actor 
Tom McGrath  Actor 
Mike Mitchell  Actor 
Jasper Johannes Andrews  Actor 
Jack Blessing  Actor 
Stephen Kearin  Actor 

Country: USA