'Monsters vs. Aliens' boasts galaxy of comic stars

You've seen animated comedies packed with pop culture references. You've seen American cities under attack from an alien menace. And you've seen a secret government facility hiding unspeakable truths within.

But you haven't seen a 49-foot-tall woman use a couple of cars to roller-skate through the streets of San Francisco.

Susan Murphy (voiced by Reese Witherspoon), the hero of the animated adventure "Monsters vs. Aliens," becomes the ultimate Bridezilla when a meteorite filled with a powerful substance crashes to Earth and ruins her wedding to self-absorbed TV weatherman Derek (Paul Rudd).

The green goop within gives Susan a growth spurt of epic proportions, and next thing she knows she's waking up in a government facility "so secret, it's a federal offense to even say its name."

Renamed "Ginormica" by Southern-fried warmonger Gen. W.R. Monger (Kiefer Sutherland), Susan learns she's not the only monstrosity in town, and now she and her new friends - mad scientist Dr. Cockroach (Hugh Laurie), prehistoric fish-man The Missing Link (Will Arnett) and brainless gelatinous mass B.O.B. (Seth Rogen) - must stop the evil Gallaxhar (Rainn Wilson), who wants Susan's superpowers for himself.

Directors Rob Letterman ("Shark Tale") and Conrad Vernon ("Shrek 2") load this premise with hit-and-miss homages to its ancestors. Nods to "E.T." and "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" are even accompanied by John Williams' themes for both timeless sci-fi films. Another musical joke depends on Harold Faltermeyer's theme from "Beverly Hills Cop," a reference that really toes the line between timeless and dated. (Note to the writers: That "Dance Dance Revolution" gag is so 2004.)

"Monsters vs. Aliens" works best when it stops quoting the past. Today's seemingly omnipresent comic actor, Seth Rogen, nearly steals the show as Bicarbonate Ostylezene Benzoate (his creation has something to do with a tomato and a ranch-flavored topping). Even Rogen's laugh makes us laugh, and B.O.B. chuckles as he devours everything in sight and puts the monstrous moves on a plate of green Jell-O. Kids who aren't old enough for "Pineapple Express" or "Zack and Miri" will love discovering Rogen here.

Us grown-ups, though, may be tired of all the in-jokes and bodily function humor that seem to be par for the non-Pixar course. But parents of younger children will enjoy how Susan emerges from her adventure stronger and more self-reliant.

Like February's stunning "Coraline," "Monsters vs. Aliens" will be presented on many screens in Real D 3D, and the process continues to get better and better. The image appears clear and bright despite those goofy glasses, and impresses the most when you'd least expect it - a shot down the aisle of a long church, for instance, amazes with its depth and detail.

But no amount of understated beauty can beat that roller-skating scene in San Francisco. It may be a minor entertainment, but "Monsters vs. Aliens" boasts a major thrill when Susan first flexes those powers of hers, saving commuters on the Golden Gate Bridge from an enormous alien robot.

If she could only save the economy ...