NBC broadcasts Monsters vs. Aliens: Mutant Pumpkins from Outer Space on October 28 at 8pm ET/PT  *** Three Stars
By Gabrielle Pantera

Seth Rogen, a happy blob in Monsters vs. Aliens mutant pumpkins TV special

HOLLYWOOD, CA (Hollywood Today) 10/28/2009 – “We’re thrilled to have two new DreamWorks Animation shows on NBC this holiday season,” says DreamWorks Animation COO Ann Daly. “The creative teams from the hit feature films were reunited to make  these new specials and we hope they will become annual holiday favorites for families.”

“This is a major coup for NBC,” says NBC primetime entertainment president Angela Bromstad. “We’re intent on providing original, family-friendly programs that reflect the quality that big-screen audiences have come to expect from these franchises. Together with the esteemed artists at DreamWorks Animation, we bring to life new holiday stories based on these popular and lovable characters.”

Picking up the story at the end of Monsters vs. Aliens, Susan Murphy (Reese Witherspoon) and her team of government agent monsters are look forward to celebrating Halloween. When a flying saucers makes an unexpected visit to Susan’s hometown of Modesto, California, the Monsters are dispatched to get to the bottom of it. Or, to at least enjoy Susan’s parents annual Halloween party. Everything looks normal at first, except for a few moving pumpkins and jack-o-lanterns with an eerie green glow. If Charlie Brown was here, he’d finally get his wish to see The Great Pumpkin. Will the Mutant Pumpkins take over the Earth or will the Monsters save the day?

NBC and DreamWorks Animation joined forces to animate the holiday special, Monsters vs. Aliens: Mutant Pumpkins from Outer Space. The Dreamworks Animation special features characters from the feature Monsters vs. Aliens, with the original voices of cast members Reese Witherspoon, Seth Rogen, Hugh Laurie, Will Arnett, Kiefer Sutherland and Rainn Wilson. Produced by Latifa Ouaou and directed by Peter Ramsey. The screenplay is by Adam F. Goldberg.

DreamWorks has another animated special in the works, with the characters from Madagascar. Called Merry Madagascar, this holiday special features the voices of Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer, Jada Pinkett Smith, Cedric The Entertainer and Andy Richter with special voice guest appearance by Carl Reiner. Merry Madagascar will broadcast on Tuesday, November 17^th.

Mutant Pumpkins is great for children, although the Pumpkins do look a bit scary and menacing. When the greedy Pumpkins threaten to take over the Earth, it’s up to the Monsters to stop them. The blob B.O.B. (Seth Rogen) is funny but dumb. Dr. Cockroach Ph.D. (Hugh Laurie) is funny and shows that being smart can be just as fallible. Susan’s parents are the characters who are the most fun. It would have been nice if they’d had more screen time.

NBC broadcasts Monsters vs. Aliens: Mutant Pumpkins from Outer Space on October 28 at 8pm ET/PT.