Anyone over the age of 12 will not laugh much during “Monsters vs. Aliens.” Most, however, will smile.

The film’s script is filled with cheap gags and obvious plotlines, but, of course, it is. It is still a 3-D animated kids’ movie.

“Monsters vs. Aliens” begins at a wedding in the quaint Californian city of Modesto. Susan Murphy (Reese Witherspoon) is excited to marry local news weatherman Derek Dietl (Paul Rudd).

Then, a meteorite hits the Earth a few hundred feet from the church and lands right on top of Susan.

Instead of becoming a footnote at the Modesto Crater visitor center, Susan becomes 49 feet, 11 inches tall.

General W.R. Monger (an unrecognizable Kiefer Sutherland) ruins her life even further; detaining Susan with other captured “monsters,” and renaming her Ginormica.

Her new prison homies include amphibious man Missing Link (Will Arnett), half-human mad scientist Dr. Cockroach (Hugh Laurie), giant bug Insectosaurus and B.O.B. (Seth Rogen), an indestructible gelatinous mass with no brain.

Prison life becomes brighter when alien evildoer Gallaxhar (Rainn Wilson) sends a destructive robot to Earth; President Hathaway (Stephen Colbert) will free them if they can defeat the alien menace.

Because kids can’t go to the movie theater without learning a life lesson that their parents should be teaching them, “Monsters vs. Aliens” contains one of female empowerment.

Derek, being a cliche TV news jerk, leaves Susan because he doesn’t want to live under her large figurative and literal shadow.

Heartbroken at first by his betrayal, Susan soon discovers individual accomplishments, like fighting alien robots, are more fulfilling than the ones Derek “shared” with her. She encourages her misfit brethren about their worth and becomes the de-facto leader of the monsters.

By now, children should already know the importance of family (“The Incredibles,” “TMNT”), diversity (“Ice Age,” “A Bug’s Life”) and friends (“Madagascar,” “Toy Story”).

And the fact that a movie has to point out that half the population could be potential leaders is an indication that maybe the idea hasn’t sunk in yet.

Unfortunately, her story is not as compelling as her cohorts are funny. Her domination of screen time takes away from the other characters.

This is forgivable, because B.O.B. is the only character the audience will wish it saw more of. Rogen is gelatinous gold as the blob sans brain, filling in mental gaps with more gaps.

It is by far the best film representation of ignorance being bliss.

B.O.B. is such a great part of the movie that a short-length DVD extra starring him is likely inevitable, maybe even as a retailer-
exclusive additional movie.

“Monsters vs. Aliens” is a 3-D movie and is best viewed as such. It’s not completely necessary, but it adds a level of engagement and enjoyment to the film.

The 3-D is mostly used, in the same vein as “Coraline,” for depth and perspective. It isn’t very subtle, but neither is anything else in this movie.

After all, the title is “Monsters vs. Aliens.”

Reach the reporter at cogino@asu.edu.