Cast and Crew Say Everyone Should Be
Able To Relate to the Movie’s Female
Empowerment Message
By Dr. Tom Snyder, Editor
The cast and crew behind the big 3-D animated movie MONSTERS VS. ALIENS believe the movie’s feminist-tinged message about empowerment is not just for girls.
In the story, an innocent young woman about to get married accidentally finds herself growing to 49 feet, 11 inches tall, and having to save Earth and its people from a self-involved alien dreaming of cloning himself and establishing a tyranny with himself as the Ultimate Head.
“The movie’s got an incredible message about finding yourself, your identity,” said beautiful and talented Reese Witherspoon, who plays the heroine’s voice.
“Everybody,” she continued, “not just girls – guys too – struggle with who are you. Are you a person who lives in the shadow of another person, just so you don’t have to be alone or afraid, or find your own strengths? Or are you someone who is willing to take a chance in being a little scared of the unknown, and maybe, possibly accomplishing great things in your life?”
Reese added, however, that the best, most satisfying part of doing the movie was being able to take her two children to see it and having them think she’s a really cool person.
“Usually, they think I’m a really big dork,” she laughed.
Seth Rogen, who plays the goofy gelatinous blob called Bob in the movie, said just watching the movie was the best part for him.
“I’m kind of an end results kind of a guy,” he joked.
“I just enjoyed the whole thing,” Seth added when asked what was the most difficult thing he had to do regarding the voiceover work he did for Bob.
“It’s fun. There was nothing really difficult about it. You go in there [the recording studio] and play around, and a lot of times experiment. It feels much more like playing than acting.
“You can just take as much time as you want,” Seth noted. “You can spend like three hours doing one line if you really wanted to, which I would never really do on a set with other people.”
He also said, “It’s actually a lot easier to be funny when you have hundreds of geniuses who are paid to animate your every facial expression with painstaking thought and minutiae. I just kind of mosey on set most of the time, spit out the lines and pray something good happens. These guys really put a lot of thought into every second of the movie. I think they add a lot of the humor that’s in it. I just think animated films are cool movies and it’s fun to see yourself in them.”
Seth concluded, “I believe I’m lucky to be in a movie. I’m very thankful people are letting me do this. I don’t feel typecast.”
Reese said she did decide to do this particular animated movie rather than others she’s been offered because “this was the first opportunity where the woman was the center of the movie.”
She added, however, “My character kept evolving.”
Reese said, “I liked Wonder Woman as a kid. It was kind of awesome to realize creating a female superhero. It was like a unique opportunity for me. My daughter wished me into this movie.”
Producer Lisa Stewart said that, although the movie focuses on Reese’s heroine and her character’s development, that’s not its entire focus.
“This is an ensemble movie,” Lisa said. “We very much wanted it to be about ALL the monsters. We wanted to make sure that all the characters had their own arc.”
“This is a great opportunity for me to reach a wider audience,” Reese added. “I just got to travel internationally. This is the first movie I’ve done that transcends language. It’s also a great opportunity to work with a lot of great comic actors.”
Reese is very active in charity work, in which she said she most likes to get involved in actually helping individual people, not just raising or giving funds.
“It’s not just about giving money,” she said. “It’s about giving your time and effort. That kind of hands on, face-to-face activity is something we’re missing.”
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
