Film Review -- Monsters University

Pixar's highly-anticipated prequel to 2001's Monsters, Inc. stars the voices of Billy Crystal, John Goodman, Steve Buscemi, and Helen Mirren. Before they became the greatest scaring team in the world, Mike Wazowski and James "Jim" Sullivan were both students at Monsters University, where, well, they didn't quite hit it off in the beginning. Mike's lifelong dream is to be a scarer, and he's worked hard to earn his way into the Scaring Program at MU. The only problem is that he's just.....not scary. Sully, on the other hand, is a born scarer, the latest product of the legendary Sullivan family. He, however, boasts overinflated confidence and no dedication. Needless to say, one does not think very highly of the other. But, faced with the possibility of expulsion, Mike and Sully team up with the outcast monsters of the Oozma Kappa fraternity to participate in the Scare Games, where only an unlikely victory will keep them at MU. They must learn to work together and overcome their differences in order to succeed. Almost always is a sequel or a prequel inferior to its predecessor, and Monsters University is no exception. The film is warm, intelligent, and highly enjoyable, but it just doesn't measure up to the near-perfection that is Monsters, Inc. The plot feels very safe, unlike the many clever twists present in Monsters, Inc., and many Pixar films in general. The film is especially affected by the absence of Boo, one of my favorite animated characters (though this was inevitable; it would have been impossible to include Boo in a prequel). Though it won't rank among Pixar's best, Monsters University is still a triumph, and a welcome return for these beloved characters.

Should you see it: Yes

Grade: B+