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Review: Don’t Be Afraid to Love “Monsters University”

The short review: Ignore the cynics mourning the golden age of Pixar; Monsters University is a vibrant, rollicking ride of a film that shows not only how to do a prequel right but that sometimes, it’s okay to be a screw-up.

The long review: Go and take a peek at Rotten Tomatoes. Go ahead, I’ll wait. How many times did you see people complaining that this is another nail in Pixar’s coffin? That Disney’s stewardship signals the beginning of the end? If you put your ear close to your computer, you can actually hear my eyes rolling! I don’t know if I was watching the same film as many of my colleagues, but Pixar’s latest offering, Monsters University, is one of the brightest animated lights in today’s cinematic landscape and is, for my money, miles better than last year’s Oscar-winning Brave.

It’s been twelve years since 2001’s Monsters Inc. took theaters by storm, winning over audiences with its surprisingly sweet, fervently funny take on things that go bump in the night. Realistically, that film’s target audience has now grown up, gone through high school and is going off to college. And now Pixar is there for them yet again with a follow-up in the guise of a prequel that takes us back to the delightfully offbeat world of Mike Wazowski (Billy Crystal) and James P. Sullivan (John Goodman). Although Boo’s presence and human connection is noticeably absent, the film has enough heart that fans of the original’s fears are quickly assuaged.

The trick with doing a prequel is that the audience knows where the story is going to end, so the journey to get there needs to be engaging enough to keep viewers on board. This is something that Monsters University takes to heart; we know that Mike and Sulley wind up working at Monsters Inc., but how? The film brings us to our heroes’ formative years at their alma mater of Monsters U., at times feeling like it could have easily been subtitled When Mike Met Sulley. After being unceremoniously kicked out of the school’s top-notch Scaring program by the terrifically terrifying winged centipede Dean Hardscrabble (played by a deliciously strict Helen Mirren), Mike and Sulley must join the lamest frat on campus, Oozma Kappa (their motto — “We’re OK!”) and compete in the campus-wide Scare Games to reclaim their rightful spots.

Much like Revenge of the Nerds, the island of misfit monsters that makes up Oozma Kappa (voiced by excellent folks like Sean Hayes, Dave Foley, Joel Murray, Peter Sohn, and Charlie Day), who provide a colorful cast of characters for Mike and Sulley to play off of, are faced with seemingly impossible odds and must use their wits and wiles to save the day. But can they? First-time Pixar director Dan Scanlon and producer Kori Rae wisely use Monsters University to teach children — and let’s face it, some adults — that sometimes it’s okay to fail, because life isn’t like a Disney film. You’re going to get knocked around a bit, and sometimes your worst nightmare will come true.

 

For most of a child’s life, they are told that if they can dream it, they can do it. They’re special. They’re different. It’s positive reinforcement that helps a child build self-confidence, a valuable trait to be sure, but once they’re out in the real world, as often is the case, it turns out that they’re not special. Sometimes, even if you want it more than anyone else, you’re not going to get what you want. Sometimes you’re going to fail. You’re going to fall on your ass and it’s going to smart.

This is precisely what happens to Mike Wazowski, who continually convinces himself that he’s something special and is forced to admit that maybe he isn’t. But that isn’t the end. You can still pick yourself up and move on. Onwards and upwards is the prevailing message of Monsters University, a spot of real life wisdom couched in the colorful, off-kilter environs of the creature-filled college.

Does Monsters University reach the emotional peaks and and valleys of a film like Up? No, not quite, but it is still a marked improvement over Cars 2 and Brave, and should give the armchair skeptics out there a reason to reevaluate their opinions of Disney-Pixar. With a stellar voice cast, an impressive attention to detail, stunning visuals and heart and humor in spades, Monsters University is one of the better pictures to come out in this crowded summer season and provides a truly enjoyable experience for kids and parents alike. Despite what others might tell you, don’t be afraid to have a good time, you guys.

Monsters University is in theaters everywhere today. For more awesome Monsters University content like Chris Hardwick’s video roundtable and my behind-the-scenes interviews, head on over to the Nerdist Channel. Then, be sure to let us know what you thought in the comments below or hit me up on Twitter.

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Comments

  1. Trishalynn says:

    I didn’t like Monsters, Inc much. Wasn’t bad, none of these are, but wasn’t impressed or engaged like others. It was alright, much like Cars an the TS sequels.

    I LOVED Monsters University. Hard core fan. Right next to Finding Nemo on the list of AWESOME to be watched over and over and over again.

    Real tired of this nonsense where a film or concept isn’t all things to all people and thus marks the end of an era. No. It doesn’t. It means it wasn’t about YOU this time. I loved Brave. It was awesome. Wasn’t and am not that big a fan of “Up”. The first 15 minutes are Amazeballs, everything else? *click* Don’t care. That doesn’t diminish what it is or what others feel for it. Wasn’t my thing, and thats ok. It was still brilliant work.

    Sequels/Prequels are meant to give those who WANT MORE, more. They aren’t meant to be genre shattering earth bending things.

    Kids love the series, they want more. Pixar gives them that. Kids are people too and there is nothing wrong with giving them their druthers. They enjoyed Cars 2 and are reveling in the Disney knock off “Planes”. No harm, not the end of anything. It’s just not always about you.

  2. Brandie says:

    I think you nailed this movie on the head. Actually, I read an article not too long ago about how too many kids movies were playing in the “You’re special, all you have to do is try and you’ll win” mantra. Of course it was silent as to HOW this movie was supposed to fit in. My guess is they didn’t watch it. Anyway, I’ve always been a huge Pixar fan and loved every movie they put out. (even Cars 2, the pudding is in the details *hint go see it with a car enthusiast who gets the plot before everyone else does because he recognizes all those poorly made cars) But Monsters University is the only one that I’ve hard core loved since Toy Story 1.

  3. Excellent review! I felt much the same way as you. I walked out of the theater almost completely satisfied and happy. But after looking at some of the reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, I wonder if these people even saw the same movie? Sure, it’s no Wall-E. But it’s miles better than Brave. I would recommend this to other people in a heartbeat. I really don’t even need to see Brave or especially Cars 2 again.

  4. V.B. says:

    Totally agreed. The movie was delightful. So many great voice actors, as well. Better than a lot of movies that have been in theatres… Gatsby I am looking at you, you son of a bitch

  5. mira says:

    100000% agreed and you said it in a way i couldn’t so I’m sending this to friends now instead of stating it all myself every single time… These “end is nigh” people need to calm down!

  6. Jeff says:

    But, what if it doesn’t love me back? I can’t be hurt again.