Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Megamind turns superhero flicks upside down
|
Edition:
U.S.
Article
Comments (0)
Email
Print
Reprints
Read
UPDATE 2-Republican election surge hits U.S. state houses
03 Nov 2010
Boehner vows to repeal Obama healthcare reforms
03 Nov 2010
WRAPUP 6-Qantas grounds giant A380s after engine failure
2:51am EDT
Qantas grounds giant A380s after engine failure
2:52am EDT
Fed takes bold, risky step to bolster weak economy
|
1:45am EDT
Discussed
268
Wall St reform architect Frank fights for survival
257
Obama warns of policy rollback if Republicans win
99
Republicans to win control of House with 231 seats
Watched
Bejeweled bra exposed in NY
Thu, Oct 21 2010
Russian spy poses for Maxim
Tue, Oct 19 2010
Mexico's 20-yr old police chief
Thu, Oct 21 2010
"Megamind" turns superhero flicks upside down
Tweet This
Share on LinkedIn
Share on Facebook
By Iain Blair
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Superheroes have all the fun, right? Not in "Megamind," the new 3D film in theaters on Friday. Sure, it is a superhero movie, but the animated comedy comes with a big twist: the super-villain, not the hero, wins...
Related News
Horror films no longer bad career move for actors
Tue, Nov 2 2010
"Megamind" an early holiday-season 3D winner
Mon, Nov 1 2010
REFILE-Bruce Willis likes it when he sees 'RED'
Wed, Oct 13 2010
Grosser, gross-out pranks for "Jackass 3D"
Wed, Oct 13 2010
Comic book legend Stan Lee gets real
Fri, Oct 8 2010
Related Topics
Fashion »
Entertainment »
Zagat Power Lunches »
Film »
By Iain Blair
LOS ANGELES |
Wed Nov 3, 2010 7:30pm EDT
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Superheroes have all the fun, right? Not in "Megamind," the new 3D film in theaters on Friday. Sure, it is a superhero movie, but the animated comedy comes with a big twist: the super-villain, not the hero, wins the day and gets the girl.
Imagine a world where Lex Luthor defeats Superman and wins the heart of Lois Lane in the process, and one gets some idea of how the makers of "Megamind" have turned the comic book world of crime fighters and caped crusaders upside down.
"I love this premise which I felt was so original," Megamind Will Ferrell told Reuters, "and to get to be in a film with this cast is the most exciting part in a way for me."
Ferrell voices the role of the maniacal and somewhat hapless villain, while Brad Pitt puts life into the crime fighter Metro Man and Tina Fey is the Lois Lane-style reporter Roxanne Ritchi.
Much like Superman, the blue-skinned, green-eyed Megamind and the suave, handsome Metro Man are sent to Earth as babies by their parents because their own planet is being swallowed by a black hole.
But once on the planet, very different fates befall them. Metro Man grows up in a loving, well-adjusted family to become a hero who uses his super powers to do good, while Megamind finds himself raised in a prison where inevitably he begins his life of crime.
For years, the evil but inept Megamind tries to defeat Metro Man and take over Metro City, but his plans always end in spectacular failure until the unthinkable finally happens, he wins. As a bonus, he earns the affection of Roxanne.
Yet, in victory Megamind inadvertently removes his sole purpose in life, and thus sets up the real story of Megamind, in which the villain slips into a sort of existential crisis and must learn who he is and how to love.
The film's plot evolved from an early premise, said director Tom McGrath. "What if Superman were out of the picture and Lex Luther and Lois Lane realized they had more in common than they thought? It is an epic superhero movie but at the heart of it is a very intimate love story, and that's where casting really became invaluable with Tina and Will."
LOVE IS A FUNNY THING
The movie features two of today's hottest comedy stars in Ferrell and Fey. The "30 Rock" star joked with reporters that while she has had little experience working on animated films, she was well-versed at playing reporters by virtue of her former job as the anchor of the faux news segment on TV sketch comedy show "Saturday Night Live."
"I am one of America's foremost fake reporters," Fey said. "I really like that in this story (Roxanne) is a modern version of (Lois Lane). She's active and intelligent, and she looks like Sharon Osbourne.
"I like her short hair and I like that she's brunette and I like that she has an ample can. I'm not going to lie to you. I really like how she's drawn."
"Megamind" is full of pop culture references, but the cape of Superman casts the longest shadow, from the chiseled do-gooder Metro Man to another character, Space Dad, also voiced by Ferrell, and obviously modeled after Marlon Brando's performance as Jor-El in the 1978 film "Superman."
Director McGrath said that while the cast stuck closely to the script, there was plenty of room for improvisation, and unlike many animated movies where actors work alone in a studio, for "Megamind " McGrath put Ferrell and Fey together to record their characters.
1
2
Next
Fashion
Entertainment
Zagat Power Lunches
Film
Add a Comment
*We welcome comments that advance the story directly or with relevant tangential information. We try to block comments that use offensive language or appear to be spam and review comments frequently to ensure they meet our standards. If you see a comment that you believe is irrelevant or inappropriate, you can flag it to our editors by using the report abuse links. Views expressed in the comments do not represent those of Reuters.
© Copyright 2010 Thomson Reuters
Editorial Editions:
Africa
Arabic
Argentina
Brazil
Canada
China
France
Germany
India
Italy
Japan
Latin America
Mexico
Russia
Spain
United Kingdom
United States
Reuters
Contact Us
Advertise With Us
Help
Journalism Handbook
Archive
Site Index
Video Index
Reader Feedback
Mobile
Newsletters
RSS
Podcasts
Widgets
Your View
Analyst Research
Thomson Reuters
Copyright
Disclaimer
Privacy
Professional Products
Professional Products Support
Financial Products
About Thomson Reuters
Careers
Online Products
Acquisitions Monthly
Buyouts
Venture Capital Journal
International Financing Review
Project Finance International
PEhub.com
PE Week
FindLaw
Reuters on Facebook
Thomson Reuters is the world's largest international multimedia news agency, providing investing news, world news, business news, technology news, headline news, small business news, news alerts, personal finance, stock market, and mutual funds information available on Reuters.com, video, mobile, and interactive television platforms. Thomson Reuters journalists are subject to an Editorial Handbook which requires fair presentation and disclosure of relevant interests.
NYSE and AMEX quotes delayed by at least 20 minutes. Nasdaq delayed by at least 15 minutes. For a complete list of exchanges and delays, please click here.
Other News on Thursday, 4 November 2010 Iran says 'stoning woman' in perfect health, attacks West
Liberian President Sirleaf dissolves cabinet: sources
|
Israeli strike kills Gaza militant
GPS maker Garmin hanging up on smartphones
Yemen al Qaeda warned tribe against helping government
|
Fed resumes massive spending to spur recovery
Holographic video takes step forward with updated display
Robot Astronaut Debuts, Joins Last Flight Of Discovery
Fearful Iraqi Christians face fresh Qaeda threats
Chernomyrdin, PM in Russia's post-Soviet chaos, dies at 72
Candidates with more Facebook fans won 70 percent of races
Obama Reiterates Bipartisan Efforts; Ready To Listen, Work For Americans
Insurgents step up attacks on Afghan forces
Parcel plot not linked to international terror, Greece says
Drug Related Shooting Injures Son Of University Veep
Germany unveils new 'psychic' octopus -- and he's French
Jay-Z To Release First U.S. "Hits Collection" In November
US-TECH Summary
Weakened Obama Faces Demands For More Muscular Middle East Policy
Italy carries out first hi-tech pancreas transplant
Microsoft sees 5 million sales of motion-sensing Kinect
Google 'Street View' broke Data Protection Act
Afghan insurgents step up attacks on police
French union to propose more pension protests
|
Rick Scott Celebrates Narrow Win For Florida Governor
German police arrest 22 in neo-Nazi internet raid
Retinal implant brightens future for blind
Kathy Griffin To Host "VH1 Divas Salute The Troops"
Turkey reinstates YouTube ban
Taylor Swift Sells Over One Million Copies Of Speak Now In First Week
Young Broadway Singer Loses Battle To Cancer
Don't put us on the Google map, says German village
Cirque Du Soleil's "Michael Jackson The Immortal World Tour" Kicks Off In October
Japan urges Medvedev not to return to disputed isles
Britain rules Google Street View breached data law
Hollywood stars latest weapon in Gulf Arab cinema wars
Three US drone strikes kill 11 militants in Pakistan
U.S. Republicans promise to roll back Obama agenda
Facebook revs up mobile device plans
|
British watchdog says Google 'Street View' broke law
SAP agrees to pay $120 million to Oracle: sources
|
US to spend $511 million to expand Kabul embassy
New hologram technology brings 3-D to life
|
Huge volcanic blast spurs more Indonesians to flee
Facebook says apps shared user data, promises fix
|
Egyptian scrolls give tips on the afterlife in London show
Britain rules Google Street View breached data law
|
Youth vote falls in US mid-terms: study
ITC staff backs Nokia in Apple case
|
Toni Morrison awarded France's Legion of Honour
Dutch govt intends to exempt small bars from smoking ban
Microsoft sees 5 million sales of motion-sensing Kinect
|
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
Outcry after Ukraine TV ditches satire on president
Peru asks Obama to get Yale to return Machu Picchu pieces
Baghdad school system struggling as pupils resume studies
NZealand should be smoke free by 2025, say lawmakers
Kings of Leon ditch "party vibe" with new album
China, Poland mark cooperation with copper, chemical deals
Indian businesses say they are making US jobs
BOC Aviation orders 30 Airbus A320
Cirque du Soleil Jackson show to debut October 2011
|
Kings of Leon ditch party vibe with new album
|
US to spend 500 million dollars on embassy in Afghanistan
Lloyds bank poaches Santander UK head for new chief
Qantas grounds giant A380s after engine failure
|
Samsung aims to sell 1 mln Galaxy Tabs by year's end
Iran says four terrorists arrested: report
|
Journalist held as Darfur rebels clash with government troops
Merkel defends 'multiculturalism has failed' comments
U.S. improves security in Afghan province: governor
|
Facebook shrinks Web page fonts
Canada rejects BHP Billiton takeover of Potash Corp
Iran says 'stoning woman' in perfect health, attacks West
Mass grave of drug war victims found in Mexico: report
|
NATO, Russia must 'bury ghosts' at landmark summit: chief
Republican Victories Overshadow Obama's Foreign Policy Control
NASA greenlights launch of shuttle Discovery
For crisis-weary Icelanders, it only gets worse
|
Asustek to join tablet parade with new models in January
France says Iran woman will not be hanged Wednesday
LG Elec to launch 8.9-inch tablet in early 2011: source
Ivorian leader ahead in poll, faces runoff
|
PayPal patches hacker hole in iPhone application
Catholics open first new Cuban seminary in decades
|
Samsung sees Galaxy Tab sales above 1 million units this year
"The Hobbit" gets two new stars
YouTube yanks cleric's jihad sermon videos: NY Times
"Fiddler on the Roof" composer Jerry Bock dies at 81
Novel material gives nod to 'invisibility cloak'
Qantas plane in trouble over Indonesia, no crash: official
MGM declares bankruptcy after Icahn agrees plan
Qantas says plane did not crash, returning to Singapore
News Corp. puts Myspace on notice
Australia's Rudd calls for Nobel winner's release
Two dead, including German woman in Malaysia floods
Samsung aims to sell 1 mln Galaxy Tabs by year's end
US fine-tunes outreach as Myanmar votes
LG Elec to launch 8.9-inch tablet in early 2011: source
US, NZealand formalise thaw in ties during Clinton visit
"Fiddler on the Roof" composer Jerry Bock dies at 81
Samsung sees Galaxy Tab sales above 1 million units this year
|
Samsung sees Galaxy Tab sales above 1 million units this year
MGM declares bankruptcy after Icahn agrees plan
Qantas to make emergency landing in Singapore
Tencent to shut down IM access for some users
|
"Megamind" turns superhero flicks upside down
ITC staff backs Nokia in Apple case
Weather forecast for the Asia-Pacific region
Asustek to join tablet parade with new models in January
|
MGM studio files for bankruptcy, Icahn backs plan
Facebook revs up mobile device plans
Explosion heard as plane flies over Indonesia
Taylor Swift pays tribute to fans for record sales
LG Elec to launch 8.9-inch tablet in early 2011: source
|
Huge volcanic blast spurs more Indonesians to flee
Nobel laureate Vargas Llosa presents new novel
Stolen Degas painting resurfaces at Sotheby's auction
Obama calls for action to lift gay ban in US military
Pakistani c.bank sells 16 bln rupees of t-bills
Samsung aims to sell 1 million Galaxy Tabs quickly
Yamaha Motor back in black in third quarter
Seoul shares end up 0.3 pct on techs, banks
The Hobbit gets two new stars
|
Seoul central bank seeks capital inflow controls
Director says European actors ugly
|
Coal India shares leap on stock market debut
Fiddler on the Roof composer Jerry Bock dies at 81
|
Taylor Swift pays tribute to fans for record sales
|
GM sees China sales growing strongly
Megamind turns superhero flicks upside down
|
Taiwan govt bond buyback less than target
PAKISTAN
S.Korea cbank calls for steps on foreign bond buys
SAP agrees to pay $120 million to Oracle: sources
Facebook offers Deals, revs up mobile effort
New hologram technology brings 3-D to life
Facebook steps into middle of smartphone lifestyles
News Corp. net profit up 36 percent
Greek police detonate bomb sent to French embassy
|
Afghan campaign destroys hundreds of houses: rights group
|
Stocks Up, Dollar Down On Fed Plan To Pump Billions Into Economy
Federal Extended Jobless Benefits Expiring For 2 Million Americans
France arrests two for suspected militant links
|
San Francisco Poised To Ban "Happy Meals"
South Yemen car bomb kills two
|
Alaska, Washington Senate Races Still Undecided
Obama Reiterates Congress Should Resolve 'Don't Ask' Law
LG Elec to launch 8.9-inch tablet early 2011: source
Kurdish TAK rebels say behind Istanbul bombing
|
Rand Study Says U.S. Health System Better For Older People Than U.K.'s
WikiLeaks urges U.S. to fully examine abuses
|
Indonesia's Mount Merapi erupts again, killing six
|
U.N. says North Korea food problems remain pressing
|
Thai flood death toll hits 122
More evacuated as Indonesian volcano erupts again
Iranians stage mass protest against 'Great Satan' US
Indonesia's Mount Merapi erupts again, killing six
U.S. border cops find massive Mexico drug tunnel
Half Nepal's under-fives stunted by hunger: report
Clinton urges lame-duck Senate vote on START
BBC apologizes to Bob Geldof for aid-for-weapons story
Traditional practices worsen child malnutrition in Nigeria
Subdued Obama says suffered a voter "shellacking"
Japan police probe anti-terror files leak
Clinton aims to mend relations with New Zealand
Chef crusades to revive Parisian 'terroir'
S.Korea installs bullet-proof windows at border village
Russia's political cartoonists find web refuge
Myanmar's Internet 'under attack' ahead of election
Pakistan faces fresh pressure on taxes for IMF loan
Dell to focus on services expansion as demand recovers
|
"The Hobbit" gets two new stars
Malaysian by-elections to test mood ahead of polls
Facebook revs up mobile effort with Deals
|
Director says European actors "ugly"
Matisse sets new $49 mln record in New York
Google and Facebook to face tougher EU privacy rules
|
Military ready for war in cyberspace
|
BBC apologizes to Bob Geldof for aid-for-weapons story
|
Military ready for war in cyberspace
EU bids to frame Facebook 'right to be forgotten'
Passengers share Qantas drama on Twitter
Tencent to shut down IM access for some users
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights