Monsters (2010) ** out of *****

Director/Writer:  Gareth Edwards
Cast:  Whitney Able, Scoot McNairy

The daughter of a major conglomerate news organization is trapped in Mexico 6 years after an alien presence has overtaken the Mexican/American border, and a photojournalist working for her father is sent in to recover and return the woman back home directly through the most dangerous location, the infected zone.
I'll give credit to "Monsters" for realizing its financial limitations by focusing directly on the human element and keeping 'the creatures' actual screen presence to a minimum.  This is not a monster movie.  It's more of a character study, which is also its fault.  Not only does it rely too heavily on its two bland and uninteresting protagonists, it then proceeds to offer up a social commentary about America's illegal citizen issue that seems contrived and unnecessary in a film that's already weighed down by its lack of action.  The political overtone isn't subtle here.  When the alien force makes its grand entrance, near (believe it or not) the closing of the picture, the desired effect/message is lost by an ending that overlaps the beginning, killing any sympathy for the space dwellers.
The intentions here are decent, but the execution is simply lackluster.  The CGI is television quality, the acting/dialogue is questionable, and the overall atmosphere seems forced.  Be prepared to read a never ending supply of signs reinforcing the implied situation the populace of Mexico are being forced to endure.  It's a bit overkill.
By association, "Monsters" is nothing more than a poor mans version of "District 9," executed in a different and less meaningful fashion, but with a message that fails to actually deliver.