A Scientist at the Movies Reviews by Greg Paris

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Title: Monster House

Date Viewed: 7/23/06

Details:

Voice talent: Mitchel Musso (D.J.)

Sam Lerner (Chowder)

Spencer Locke (Jenny)

Steve Buscemi (Nebbercracker)

Maggie Gyllenhaal (Zee)

Jason Lee (Bones)

Kathleen Turner (Constance)

Director: Gil Kenan

Executive producers: Steven Spielberg, Robert Zemeckis, et al.

Score: +

The Review: Gives a whole new meaning to the phrase "haunted house."

D.J. (Musso) is convinced that there's indeed something strange in the neighborhood: the house across the street, with odd goings-on, a grumpy old resident, and just a generally spooky feel to things. He's been watching through his telescope, and the house seems to be watching back. Don't you dare walk on the lawn, and beware of even ringing the doorbell! Even the police are not immune. When D.J.'s babysitter (a Goth Gyllenhaal: fun!) loses her boyfriend (a stoned and lecherous Lee), leaving behind a mysterious beer can on the house's lawn, he enlists his best friend Chowder (Lerner) and joins forces with the neighborhood do-gooder and type-A over-achiever (voiced by Locke, but she's drawn like an adolescent Julianne Moore: cute!) to get to the bottom of things. This means exploring the house -- and that means trouble.

Awesome animation! Curious back-story, and a few twists to keep things interesting. Fun. Note to vandal self: I didn't realize it was so easy to drive a construction crane.

(29-Oct-06)

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