'MONSTER TRUCKS': Four Stars (Out of Five)

The new live-action/computer-animated action comedy, directed by Chris Wedge; who's also directed (or co-directed) such hit computer- animated kids movies as 'ICE AGE', 'ROBOTS' and 'EPIC'. The film is about a high school senior, who befriends an unknown subterranean creature; and then uses it to power his monster truck (which he built himself, from old cars). The two also team up, to save the creature (and others like it),from ruthless businessmen. It was written by Derek Connolly, Mathew Robinson, Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger. The movie stars ​Lucas Till (of 'X-MEN' fame),Jane Levy (of 'DON'T BREATHE' and 'EVIL DEAD' fame),Thomas Lennon, Barry Pepper, Rob Lowe, Holt McCallany, Amy Ryan, Frank Whaley and Danny Glover. It was made on a budget of $125 million, and it's only expected to make a fraction of that back (in theaters). It's also gotten mostly negative reviews from critics, but I really enjoyed it!

Tripp Coley (Till) lives in a small North Dakota town, which is ran by big business (a ruthless oil company). He hates his mom's boyfriend, who's also the town's sheriff (Pepper),and he really wants to leave town. Tripp is also fascinated by automobiles, and he builds himself a monster truck (out of old scrapped car parts) to leave town in. The truck still needs an engine though. One night, while he's working on his truck, Tripp finds an undiscovered subterranean creature resting nearby. He then befriends it, and names it Creech. He also learns that the creature loves speed, and it can power his truck just like an engine could. Tripp also later learns that the ruthless oil businessmen want to catch Creech, and kill him, as well as other subterranean critters like it (which the oil company accidentally let loose). Tripp teams up with Creech, and a friendly girl from school (Levy),to save this new species.

The movie is a lot of fun; the visuals are great, the critters are cool, and the action scenes are entertaining. It's also kind of an animal rights movie, so I love it automatically for that, but it's also reminiscent of other classic 'boy befriends alien' (or animal) kids movies. It's definitely the type of film I would have loved as a kid, and the cast is all great in it. I also think Wedge is a pretty talented director, at making awesome animated (or partially animated) kids movies. I really don't understand the negative reviews!

Watch our movie review show 'MOVIE TALK' at: https://youtu.be/xGBv2IpDjDc

Monster Trucks has Tetravex Petroleum hydrofracking in North Dakota and they hit a big pool of water. Boss Rob Lowe says drill on through and they discover a species of ancient amphibious life which has learned to survive on crude petroleum. They look fierce, but when treated nice like Lucas Till does and his science tutor Jane Levy they can be friendly.

And useful as he finds that the one that came across him is good for powering his monster truck. It's now a monster truck in the literal sense of the word.

And Till and Levy will need speed to overcome Lowe and his cronies, to both capture the two creatures the oil company has and return to their homes in the earth.

Some of the elements of Mighty Joe Young are in this plot which has a kind of goofy charm to it.

And it's nice to see big oil lose one.

Scientist Jim Dowd (Thomas Lennon) and thuggish Burke work for Reece Tenneson (Rob Lowe) and his oil drilling company. Their drilling unleashes a monster. It escapes to a garage owned by Mr. Weathers (Danny Glover) where Tripp Coley (Lucas Till) is working on his junk truck. When Burke and his men barge in searching for the creature, it hides under Tripp's truck. Tripp and his tutor Meredith (Jane Levy) escape in the monster-powered truck. His mother Cindy (Amy Ryan) is dating Sheriff Rick (Barry Pepper). His father Wade Coley (Frank Whaley) works as a driller. Meanwhile, Dowd is working with another monster that they have captured.

The premise is sorta like the old Disney movies such as Herbie The Love Bug. It is silly but the point is to have fun with it. At the end of the day, I can't get over the stupidity. The high octane action gets repetitive. The romance needs more time to set up before the monster truck takes off. There is plenty of top level acting power but they can't rise above the material. Lucas Till is very pretty but his romantic instincts are limited. Jane Levy could be a fun partner if he is more capable. The monster does split the uprights between being cute while still monstrous. I was expecting this to be a high school movie but it's skewed more towards battling the big, bad oil driller. This is fun for awhile until it gets a bit boring. The story and the side characters aren't compelling enough and the movie seems to be trying to substitute them with long action sequences.