Most critics like Megamind, and the praise gathers in two places: the jokes and the look. The reviews describe a brisk, witty comedy that plays with superhero conventions rather than simply spoofing them, with a steady supply of sight gags and sharp one-liners. Will Ferrell’s voice work is singled out more than once for being funnier and more restrained than expected, and several critics note that the 3D is handled with care, built into the visuals rather than thrown at the audience.
The reservations cluster around the story. A number of reviews call the plot predictable or derivative, and a few find the film short on real feeling beneath the gags. The comparison nobody avoids is Pixar: The Incredibles comes up again and again as the film this is not. The spread is otherwise narrow, with most scores in the 60s and 70s; Variety is the one outright dissenter, finding the nonstop jokiness and pop-culture references wearing.
A
The AV Club
4 November 2010 · B+ · Tasha Robinson
83
Robinson finds the film clever and melancholic, though its story is predictable and its references may leave children behind. She praises its unexpected depth in portraying the codependent relationship between hero and villain.
Read the full review →R
Radio Times
★★★★ · Terry Staunton
80
Staunton says the fast-paced animation will delight children, adults and superhero fans. He praises its plentiful sight gags and sharp one-liners.
Read the full review →H
The Hollywood Reporter
31 October 2010 · Todd McCarthy
80*
McCarthy finds Megamind lively, good-natured fun that refreshes familiar superhero ideas with nimble plotting. He especially praises the 3D, noting how naturally it is integrated into the film’s visuals.
Read the full review →T
Total Film
2 December 2010 · ★★★★ · Ken McIntyre
80
The critic calls it a polished, very funny entertainment that is very good, though not quite great. They praise Tom McGrath’s pacing and smart gags, along with the film’s effective use of 3D.
Read the full review →S
Slant Magazine
31 October 2010 · ★★★/4 · Simon Abrams
75
The critic finds the film smarter, funnier, and more sympathetic than its initial spoof-like setup suggests, though its humor can be sloppy. He praises McGrath’s use of space and the chemistry between Fey and Ferrell in the memorial scene.
Read the full review →N
The New York Times
5 November 2010 · A.O. Scott
75*
Scott gives the film a positive verdict, finding its superhero premise entertainingly inventive. He particularly praises its sly humor and playful treatment of familiar superhero conventions.
Read the full review →E
Empire
27 November 2010 · Sam Toy
70*
Toy finds Megamind fun and energetic, though it falls short of its potential. He praises the fast-moving gags and slick animation, while noting the cast and script seem held back from being funnier.
Read the full review →E
Evening Standard
10 April 2012
70*
The critic finds the film playful and technically accomplished, though lacking real emotion. They single out its clever idea of Megamind becoming bored after winning as its best trick.
Read the full review →L
Los Angeles Times
5 November 2010 · Betsy Sharkey
65*
Sharkey finds the animated comedy amusing and often clever, though it loses focus at times. She praises its crisp, minimalist visual style and the sight gags it makes possible.
Read the full review →G
The Guardian
2 December 2010 · Peter Bradshaw
65*
Bradshaw finds the animation entertaining, funnier and more visually exciting than a comparable film, though it falls short of the best in the genre. He praises its comic lines and inventive evil inventions, while noting that it lacks the passion and brilliance of The Incredibles or Toy Story.
Read the full review →S
Screen Daily
1 November 2010 · Brent Simon
64*
The review’s verdict is unavailable in the accessible page text. No specific praise or complaint can be identified from the visible material.
Read the full review →I
IndieWire
10 November 2010 · Christopher Campbell
60*
Campbell finds Megamind enjoyable but less accomplished than The Incredibles. He praises its simple villain-turned-good story while criticizing its camera movement as overwhelming.
Read the full review →T
Time Out
30 November 2010 · ★★★ · David Jenkins
60
The review gives the film a middling three-star assessment, finding its superhero conventions treated with a wink. It singles out the hyperactive animation and steady stream of genre conventions.
Read the full review →V
Variety
1 November 2010 · Justin Chang
30*
Chang finds the film derivative despite some clever twists, wit, and emotion. He praises its elastic take on the superhero genre’s good-versus-evil conventions, but criticizes its nonstop jokey humor and pop-culture references.
Read the full review →D
Digital Spy
29 November 2010 · Mayer Nissim
85*
The critic finds the film charming, witty, and unusually full of spark. They single out its clever screenplay and Will Ferrell’s emotionally engaging voice performance.
Read the full review →D
Den of Geek
3 December 2010 · ★★★★ · Ryan Lambie
80
Lambie finds the film a charming, witty action comedy with enough style to overcome its derivative moments. He especially praises the humour and geek references, singling out Ferrell’s restrained performance and Marlon Brando impression.
Read the full review →H
HeyUGuys
2 December 2010 · Adam Lowes
78*
The critic finds Megamind a welcome, thoroughly entertaining addition to DreamWorks’ animated films. They praise its brisk plotting, well-observed character moments, and playful pop-culture references.
Read the full review →E
Eye for Film
5 January 2011 · Andrew Grant
75*
Grant finds Megamind a consistently funny, emotionally nuanced, and notably strong DreamWorks effort. He praises its character development and voice performances, especially the leads, while noting it lacks Pixar’s broad appeal.
Read the full review →McMahon finds Megamind entertaining and watchable, though it falls short of being truly impressive. He praises its cast and lively animation, while noting that Pixar’s storytelling makes the film feel comparatively cheap.
Read the full review →P
Paste
5 November 2010 · Josh Jackson
55*
Jackson finds the film amusing and silly, though its predictable story keeps it from being especially funny or touching. He praises its clever jokes for adult viewers but says Pixar’s superhero animation remains unmatched.
Read the full review →Ordered by the weight we give each publication, then by score. Scores are normalised to 100; * means inferred from an unrated review. Summaries are ours, not quotations; follow the links for the reviews themselves. How we rate