Monsters University
Dir: Dan Scanlon
Starring: Billy Crystal, John Goodman, Steve Buscemi, and
Helen Mirren
The monsters are lurking
in the dorm rooms in Monsters University,
the prequel to Pixar’s inventive 2001 film Monsters,
Inc. Pixar, the benchmark for animation in recent years, has found success
with their focus on storytelling and character development; look no further
than the first ten minutes of Pixar’s Up for
an example of their skills in making animated characters remarkably emotional
and human. Though the past few efforts from this company have been somewhat
lackluster there is still a quality they achieve if not completely successfully
executed every time. Monsters University continues
the brand extension Pixar has implemented with its past works, and while some
of the elements are unorganized the result is still a charming family friendly
feature.
A young Mike
Wazowski is enticed, after a field trip to Monsters Incorporated, to attend
Monsters University and become the world’s greatest “scarer”. Though Mike isn’t
the scariest monster on the block he commits to Monsters U, a Harry
Potter-esque school for monsters. While there Mike (Billy Crystal) meets Sully
(John Goodman) and immediate comes to clash with his laid back, privileged mentality.
The two are in constant competition in every class, which leads to an
altercation in front of Dean Hardscrabble (Helen Mirren) that finds them both
kicked out of the scaring program. The two hatch a plan to compete in the
annual scare games, which would get them re-admitted into the program and prove
to the school that they are the scariest monsters of them all.
The usually Pixar sheen is
striking in the animation of this film. Bold color designs in all manners of
the rainbow compose the many shaped and sized monsters. The buildings alone
would require additional viewings in order to spot all the subtleties in the
surrounding atmosphere. Reintroducing the characters of Mike and Sulley in yet
another summer origin story offers amusing, if overused, opportunities to
further present the world of the monsters.
The college setting,
reminiscent of Revenge of the Nerds,
introduces the familiar best buds as competitive foes. Mike the vigilant
student working for his life’s dream and Sulley the coasting image of
popularity. The college movie themes are familiar and govern the direction of
the narrative throughout. While many of the children that grew up watching Monsters Inc. will find themselves in
their first year of college, the decision to base the film in this setting
could alienate younger audiences. Also, there is startling lack of female
influence throughout; Dean Hardscrabble and the Greek Council President (Aubrey
Plaza) being the most notable females have miniscule roles compared to their
male counterparts. There are some fun manipulated attributes used within the
college film structure. The fraternity/sorority characters are enjoyable; as
are the competitive scare games they participate in. Unfortunately the
trappings of the origin film set in, allowing the narrative to become familiar
and unimaginative. Setting the film primarily in the world of the monsters
separates the human qualities associated with parenting and the basis of fear,
which were so finely employed in the first film. And while the character
attributes of self-respect, courage, and integrity are admirable, they have
been portrayed in countless other examples.
Bringing these characters
together for another adventure reintroduces them to a new generation of
children. Though the result isn’t comparable to Monster’s Inc., it will still have you laughing alongside your
children, and any experience where that is achieved is commendable.
Monte’s Rating
3.75 out 5.00
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