MONSTERS UNIVERSITY Review

Leave it to Pixar to deliver a movie that is not only fun, but honest in a way most films for kids tend to avoid. When movies aimed at the younger set skew the truth in order to make everything turn out in the best of ways for the main characters it is hard to sometimes take the lessons it is trying to teach with more than a grain of salt. Now, given the fact we know where the story of Mike (Billy Crystal) and Sully (John Goodman) eventually ends up it is not without surprise it was an adventure getting to that point, but what is slightly surprising is the way in which they so effortlessly stumble upon their careers in a world that's been completely imagined and realized through technology. This authenticity of the world created for these movies lends itself well to the lesson here that you aren't always going to get what you want no matter how hard you work, but instead the cold truth has to be accepted and in some ways you come out stronger and more proud having admitted and come to terms with your own weaknesses. Though the idea of hard work always paying off is a nice sentiment and in a perfect world might be true, the real world doesn't always allow our dreams to pan out the way we hoped and so we have to adjust to fulfill the potential of the hand in which we were dealt. That all may sound somewhat insightful given the fact the point of discussion here is an animated film, but that is what continues to set Pixar so much further ahead of the pack. Sure, they've had their missteps over the past few years as no one was asking for a sequel to Cars and despite the fact I found it gorgeous and engaging the majority of audiences and critics weren't too pleased with Brave. Monsters University may not be the return to top form the majority of people are hoping it will be, but by this point the bar is so ridiculously high for Pixar it is almost unattainable. On the plus side, this prequel to 2001's Monster's Inc. is a hilarious and colorful adventure that will have the kiddies in stitches and the parents chuckling at all the references and college humor their children are too young to even comprehend.  

Full Trailer for MONSTERS UNIVERSITY

This summer Pixar drops its yearly treat in the form of a sequel that will hopefully prove more satisfying than its previous follow-up. Though I had no desire for a Cars 2 and feel in the minority when it comes to last years original effort, Brave, I am seriously looking forward to the long awaited sequel, or should I say prequel, to Monsters Inc. Being only the fourth Disney/Pixar film back in 2001 Monsters Inc. has remained one of my favorite films from the studio and the idea of seeing MikeWazowski (Billy Crystal) and James P. “Sulley” Sullivan (John Goodman) as college kids trying to become the trained "scarers" they are in the original film is a promising premise for a couple of characters impossible not to love. We have been served plenty of teaser trailers and mock university commercials for the film but now we finally have a full length trailer that gives a good impression for what the final film might deliver. There are plenty of laughs here and Pixar seems to have found its humor comfort zone in these familiar faces as well. The animation looks flawless and the story looks to be a rollicking adventure that kids will no doubt have fun with and one parents and those who grew up on the original film and are now experiencing college themselves will find plenty to laugh at and relate to. The film also features the voices of Steve Buscemi, Dave Foley, Julia Sweeney, Joel Murray, and Peter Sohn. Monsters University opens in 3D on June 21st. Hit the jump to watch the trailer.