Take a Ford Model T and slap on new rims, a rear spoiler, and tinted windows. Despite the pretty looking new additions, you still have an old Ford Model T. 3D effects are just the pretty new additions to an otherwise old model known as the Dreamworks Animation style of storytelling used in "Monsters vs. Aliens."

While a ragtag group of heroes teaming up to stop the evil force is an all too familiar plot used in many books, television shows, movies, and anime, writers and production companies usually find some way to mix it up. There is something disheartening about the consistent features of a Dreamworks Animation computer animated film:

-A ragtag group of heroes based around a common theme.
-Said ragtag group of heroes are all voiced by A-list Hollywood celebrities.
-A main hero who is different from normal society due to his/her looks or mannerisms.
-In between battles the main hero learns a message about accepting him/herself and his/her friends despite his/her differences.
-An evil force that requires the ragtag group of heroes to team up to defeat.
-The main hero steps in to fight the evil villain when the group fails.
-A constant stream of visual gags and pop culture jokes throughout the film.

Dreamworks Animation did it in "Shrek," Kung-Fu Panda," "Madagascar," and "Over the Hedge." Now they did it again in "Monsters vs. Aliens." Featuring a cast of A-list Hollywood celebrities like Hugh Laurie and Seth Rogan, this film opts to pit classic sci-fi horror movie monsters against a sci-fi alien invasion--forming the titular monsters vs. aliens. The main heroine is an average girl about to get married when a meteor mutates her into a 49 foot, 11 inch woman. If you don't see the unexpected post mutation break-up between her and her fiance, then I won't spoil the ending where the good monsters triumph over the evil aliens.

There's nothing much else to say about the film. The jokes are hit and miss and movie plays like a connect the dot puzzle where the final drawing is a straight line. If you enjoyed the previous Dreamworks Animation films, you'll enjoy this one. The aforementioned 3D effects are really exceptional and I would recommend watching "Monsters vs. Aliens" for that alone. But you can just as easily recreate the experience with some "Monsters vs. Aliens" toys while playing a "Kung-Fu Panda" DVD in the background.