An homage to movies of the 1950's hit theatres last week like a errant meteor…oh, wait, that's part of the plot of DreamWorks' "Monsters vs. Aliens," "conceived, developed and authored in 3-D technology" (as promotional material and ads never forget to remind us).

Minutes before her wedding, small-town Modesto girl, Susan Murphy (voiced by Reese Witherspoon), is hit on the head by a meteor and her life and body are forever changed. At the altar, Susan transforms into a 49 feet 11 inch "monster" with a subsequent name change to Ginormica. The military, led by a wildly untamed general (a barely recognizable Keifer Sutherland) whisks her off to a secret holding facility with other mutated freaks. Her monster cellmates include a gelatinous blue blob named B.O.B. (Seth Rogen), Dr. Cockroach (the hilarious Hugh Laurie), the Missing Link, a macho half-ape/halffish (Will Arnett) and Insectorsaurus, a 350-foot grub. Confined together for life, the government led by the Commander-in-Chief (a scene-stealing Stephen Colbert), decides to grant the monsters amnesty if they can fight Earth-attacking aliens ruled by the cantankerous, multi-eyed, purple octopus Galaxhar (Rainn Wilson).

Susan quickly learns what it means to be a woman in charge of her own destiny - and the world's - and that's one of the film's finest and strongest statements. A little female empowerment goes a long way. Her destiny with the meteor was in fact her wake-up call mostly because she doesn't have to marry the self-absorbed dolt (Paul Rudd).

Kids will love the one-eyed, brainless B.O.B. and his attempts at making sense. Adults will find lots of humor and irony in the popular cultural references, especially when the military and government try to control things.

The 3-D technology used in the film is impressive and fun but it hardly seems the film benefits by it. The film's strengths are its retro look, sound design and especially the supremely talented cast, often working with unfunny, repetitive material.