This weekend’s big release Monsters vs. Aliens takes two of any sci-fi fan’s favorite things, monsters and aliens, and pits them against one another. At the same time, these monsters aren’t just facing off against an alien invasion. They also have to contend with the classic versions of the characters they represent, which include a slew of much beloved, iconic characters.
So how do the Monsters vs. Aliens crew stack up against their original archetypes? We take a look at the five main monsters below and give you our opinion on whether the new character is an upgrade from the original or a poor imitator.
Monsters vs. Aliens gets Academy Award winner Reese Witherspoon to voice its protagonist, a simple woman named Susan who, after an encounter with an alien meteorite, finds herself growing to ginormous proportions. While Witherspoon is certainly the superior actress over Attack of the 50 Foot Woman’s Allison Hayes, we have to hand this victory over to the original. There’s just something alluring about the fifty foot tall flesh and blood woman that can’t be recreated in a cartoon, especially one that wants to be child friendly. While the classic sci-fi picture might not be that great, Nancy is an icon that can’t be defeated, if only for the amazing poster for the classic film; one of the greatest sci-fi posters of all time.
Comparing the original Blob with the new, animated version comes down to one simple trait - talking. The original blob was just a gelatinous mass that consumed everyone and everything it came in contact with. The new blob, named B.O.B., gets snappy dialogue that steals the scene when he appears on screen. That alone is enough to give the victory to the new incarnation of the monstrous creation, but add in that the new character is voiced by Seth Rogen and you’ve got a decisive win for the new blob on the block.
If we were comparing the new Dr. Cockroach with the most popular incarnation of this character, Jeff Goldblum’s character in the 1989 remake of The Fly, there’s no way the animated character could win, voiced by Hugh Laurie or not. Instead we’re looking at the classic, campier version of The Fly and that makes this a tougher competition. As much love as I have for Vincent Price, I have to give this one to Dr. Cockroach. Monsters vs. Aliens allows the animated mad scientist to be a little more expressive than David Hedison, who is without the use of his own face through most of his own picture. Plus, Hugh Laurie is pretty damn cool, with or without Dr. House’s cane.
Will Arnett’s Missing Link has more to contend with than most of the other characters here. His classic equivalent has already done the 3-D thing in one of the Creature’s sequels. Working to the new versions’ advantage is that almost all of the sequels took away from what made the Creature so cool in the first place, a beast that time forgot, but that still has primal urges that include love. Unfortunately for the MvA version, that includes this recreation. Primal horror trumps neurotic nervousness any day of the week when you’re talking about monsters. If this was a new Woody Allen, Arnett’s vocal creation would win out, but we prefer our Creatures to be a bit more ferocious.
I have to be honest from the get go - the animated Insectasaurus just doesn’t have a chance to defeat my favorite of Toho’s creations. The original Mothra, one of Godzilla’s sometimes-allies / sometimes-enemies, is just too awesome in every form he takes, from the larval caterpillar form to full-fledged Moth. Sure, they both have communication issues, but Mothra gets to telepathically communicate with those cute little Japanese twins, while Insectasarus who can only communicate with the neurotic Missing Link. Yes, Link’s mediocrity winds up giving victories to other monsters in two different competitions, but I think just about anyone would pick the wee Japanese twins over having Will Arnett as a chat buddy. Sorry Will.
