Monsters University

Monsters University

Starring Billy Crystal, John Goodman, Helen Mirren, Steve Buscemi

Directed by Dan Scanlon

As a very young student, Mike Wazowski (Billy Crystal) dreams of being able to one day be a real Scarer and work at Monsters Inc. to scare children in order to generate electricity, but no one else believes he can do it.  While on tour of the complex, he sneaks into the human world with a real Scarer and from that moment on sets to achieving his one goal.

Years later, Mike is a freshman at the prestigious Monsters University, where he hopes to get into the Scare program under the tutelage of the head of the school, Dean Hardscrabble (Helen Mirren).  On his first day of class he meets Sulley Sullivan (John Goodman), who follows a long line of Scarers, and acts like he doesn't need to study or pay attention, while Mike feels the need to over study to make it into the program.  The two of them butt heads and become enemies.

After an accident occurs, both Mike and Sulley are kicked out of the program, and Mike takes it especially hard, until he learns he could re-enter if his fraternity (which is the lamest fraternity on campus) could win the prestigious Scare Games.  If he could win, he'll re-enter the program.  If he loses, he must leave the University.

He spends his whole time training his fraternity, including Sully, who is still angry at Mike and the two of them spend more time competing against each other than with one another.  As the games progress, however, the two of them find common ground and they learn they're much better being best friends than mortal enemies.

 Disney Pixar has had a great track record with some of today's most innovative and fascinating films that tug at the heart strings as well as tickle the funny bone.  They have a great way of blending films that aren't just entertaining to children, but adults as well.  That's why they've been so successful, and that's why "Monsters University," - a prequel released twelve years after the original - fared so well.  It was a calculated risk, hoping that those who watched the original all those years ago would still care about the loveable little green man and his burly blue-haired companion.  And it paid off.

Although not as good as the original, it still has the classic Pixar formula that makes it an endearing film.  The relationship between Mike and Sulley, from the first moments of their initial hatred toward one another to how they become the best of friends, is fascinating to see.

Another thing Pixar does well is hide moral truths into their films, and this one is no exception, as it shows how to fully believe in yourself when no one else does, and how even the seemingly ordinary being can do something extraordinary. 

My Rating: A-