Who'da thunk that DreamWorks Animation already needed to pillage its back catalog? If you missed this year's Despicable Me, in which a supervillain learned the value of being good and got down to the Bee Gees, then you can simply see Megamind, in which a supervillain learns the value of being good and gets down to Michael Jackson. (Are Hootie & the Blowfish next?) Said bad guy (Ferrell) is a swaggering, blue-headed alien who's been engaged in a perpetual battle with Metro Man (Pitt), hero and protector of the gleaming megalopolis Metro City. After seemingly killing Mr. Man with a sun-fueled death ray, Megamind assumes control of the burg and realizes, gosh-durn-it, a supervillain ain't nothing without a superhero to fight against.
So Mega-guy infuses a nerdy TV cameraman (Hill) with Metro Man's DNA and schools him in the ways of flying charity. Mega also assumes human disguise and romances a strong-willed reporter (Tina Fey), who assists him when the plan goes awry. Laughs are few: Ferrell gets to channel Brando-as--Jor El in a training montage, and Shepard Fairey's "Hope" posters are rejiggered for a humorous sight gag. But this is the kind of movie where "Bad to the Bone" is considered a clever musical cue because, you know, Megamind is bad. To the bone. Fire your music supervisor, gents.
Watch the trailer