Monsters University (2013)
Running time: 104 minutes (1 hour, 44 minutes)
MPAA – G
DIRECTORS: Dan Scanlon
WRITERS: Robert Baird, Daniel Gerson, and Dan Scanlon; from a story by Robert Baird, Daniel Gerson, and Dan Scanlon
PRODUCER: Kori Rae
EDITORS: Greg Snyder
COMPOSER: Randy Newman
ANIMATION/FANTASY/COMEDY/FAMILY
Starring: (voices) Billy Crystal, John Goodman, Steve Buscemi, Helen Mirren, Peter Sohn, Joel Murray, Sean Hayes, Dave Foley, Charlie Day, Alfred Molina, Tyler Labine, Nathan Fillion, Aubrey Plaza, Julia Sweeney, Bonnie Hunt, and John Ratzenberger
Monsters University is a 2013 computer-animated comedy and fantasy film from Pixar Animation Studios. Theatrically presented in 3D, Monsters University is Pixar’s fourteenth full-length feature film, and it is also the first prequel to one of the studio’s films. Distributed by Walt Disney Pictures, it is a prequel to the 2001 animated film, Monsters, Inc.
Monsters University focuses on the stars of the original film, Mike and Sulley. The movie looks at the early days of their relationship during their time in college, telling the story of how they went from rivals to friends. Although it is not quite as good as the original, Monsters University is a warm and fuzzy and sweet and sentimental film that offers a return of one of the great comedy duos of animated films, Mike (ostensibly this movie’s lead character) and Sulley.
Monsters University introduces Michael “Mike” Wazowski (Billy Crystal), a young monster who dreams of being a “scarer,” a monster who enters the human world at night to scare children. He enrolls at Monsters University, believing that is the best place to learn to be a great scarer. Mike meets a large, blue furry monster named James P. “Sulley” Sullivan (John Goodman), a privileged student from a family of renowned scarers. The two immediately dislike each other.
Sulley joins the school’s premiere fraternity, Roar Omega Roar (ROR). Mike has to settle for Oozma Kappa (OK), a fraternity of geeks and outcasts. An incident between Mike and Sulley puts the two on the fast track to trouble. Mike decides that the Scare Games, a competition between Monsters University’s select fraternities and sororities, can save his and Sulley’s college careers. First, the two rivals will have to learn to trust each other and their new Oozma Kappa friends.
Pixar is known for animated films that offer superb character drama, but Monsters University is simply a comedy with endearing characters. I call Monsters University Pixar’s DreamWorks Animation movie. Like many DreamWorks animated features, Monsters University is a broad comedy with several clever set pieces and sequences in which the heroes must deal with seemingly impossible-to-overcome obstacles. Also like DreamWorks animation, Monsters University lacks the emotional resonance of Pixar’s best films, although this movie’s director and writers try. Similar to Pixar’s Brave, Monsters University also has a weak first half-hour.
The two best things about Monsters University are the delightful supporting characters that are members of Oozma Kappa and the Scare Games. I found those supporting players to be endearing, and the film gives just enough of them to make you feel that you didn’t get enough. The Scare Games are exciting and have a great ending, which a subsequent plot twist kinda ruins.
When Monsters Inc. first appeared in 2001, it was novel, maybe even groundbreaking in a way. All Monsters University can be is a welcome return of old friends, and that’s good enough.
7 of 10
B+
Saturday, November 23, 2013
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