Monsters University Review
RYAN: This is the prequel to 2001’s Monsters Inc. and Disney/Pixar is so genius at creating insta-classic masterpieces. It’s a given this is going to be good and then it’s just a question of How good is it? This at least delighted or exceeded my expectations.
CHUCK: I agree. It doesn’t have the same emotional or intellectual depth as Brave, or Toy Story 3 or Up, but it’s not intended to. It’s meant to be a complete family film and it succeeds.
RYAN: It’s certainly for all ages. It’s very enjoyable. I liked it more than the original because thematically it’s more appealing – an underdog story, competition, friendship and loyalty. It’s Revenge of the Nerds meets Monsters Inc.
CHUCK: Definitely. It also has shades of Animal House, being set at a university, you have all the different clubs and hijinks. I didn’t like it more than the first one, which had a thrilling ending and the cute little girl; but, this is not just like the first one. It’s an original story with some of the same characters.
RYAN: It wasn’t formulaic. I always say the best family films are those which also cater to the adults and while this doesn’t have any innuendo, it’s still very laugh out loud funny. There is great comedy even though it’s always totally appropriate.
CHUCK: There were very few things I thought the kids wouldn’t get, like some animated films… Shrek or How to Train Your Dragon comes to mind. But it’s definitely an hilarious movie.
RYAN: The animation and colors are so great. I love all the pastels and candy-colored environments. For a movie about monsters learning to be scary, it couldn’t be more inviting. And they create a very complete world with all of the different types of monsters.
CHUCK: Everything works together – the architecture of the buildings, the design of the trees, the buses.
RYAN: It’s a very cohesive world.
CHUCK: And with twelve years between the two installments, you can really see the advancement in technology. The detail was more intense while keeping the same look.
RYAN: The 3D is good.
CHUCK: Pixar is one of the companies that consistently does 3D well. But I like it more understated, with depth versus in your face.
RYAN: We also have to mention the short, The Blue Umbrella, which plays before the film and it’s so beautiful. It looked so realistic, I didn’t even think it was animation at first. I thought it was live action. Craymazing!
CHUCK: Amazing. I think Pixar uses them to test new technology.
RYAN: Even during the feature film, some of the animation looks totally real.
CHUCK: There’s a scene at the end with Mike and Sulley at a lake that was just phenomenal animation.
RYAN: If they could only get humans to look real now.
CHUCK: Then actors would be out of a job! This is the director’s first feature with Pixar and he did an incredible job.
RYAN: There was a ton of kids in the audience at the screening and they were completely silent and just rapt during the entire movie.
CHUCK: The voice talents were amazing.
RYAN: Billy Crystal is just so good.
CHUCK: Helen Mirren is so commanding and there are Pixar standards in there and they’re so talented. There are a lot of names – John Krasinski, Sean Hayes, Steve Buscemi, many others.
RYAN: Such a delightful movie. There are not many current options for families. This will be big.
