Originally posted to the DMI Review on 7/9/13
National Lampoon's Monster House
Don't panic, but Pixar's made another film that revisits old characters. Monsters University thankfully is not Cars 2, although it's not Toy Story 3 either. It's a film that doesn't match its predecessor, but finds some new ground wholly worth visiting. In fact, the only aspect of MU that even approaches the territory of a retread is the fact that it's a college movie, featuring a classic students vs. jocks and students vs. dean structure, but the brain trust at Pixar knows how to creatively milk well-worn story beats by infusing them with the visual charm and wit the animation studio is known for. They even find a way at the end of the film to make far more unique than you'd ever think it could turn out to be, but that's the genius of Pixar.
The original Monsters, Inc. focused on Sulley (John Goodman) and his protective relationship with a young human girl he names Boo. His pal Mike Wazowski (Billy Crystal) was always by his side, providing comic relief and nervous exasperation throughout their adventure together. Monsters University, featuring virtually no human characters, focuses on Mike as a smart and precocious young monster who dreams of attending Monsters U and becoming the greatest scarer of all time (because children's screams power the monster world, of course). Though Mike knows the science behind scaring, the short, goofy cyclops is not an inherently frightening creature, causing sparks to fly when his peers are so impressed by the lazy slacker James P. "Sulley" Sullivan who has the physique and family legacy of a world class scarer. Their squabbling gets them into trouble with Dean Hardscrabble, menacingly voiced by Helen Mirren, and soon all bets are riding on the Scare Games, a fraternity competition that sees Mike and Sulley join the smallest and wimpiest of all the frats.
A story ripped straight from textbook college movie plots might sound like a rehash of things far below Pixar's abilities, but their knack for comedy shines in Monsters University as they have the opportunity to send up college culture via stereotypes (nerds, jocks, slackers, hippies, etc...), common experiences (dreary weather and monotone professors after the winter break), and visual gags (dorm food is literally garbage at MU). The comedy and fun assortment of characters, including Mike and Sulley's fraternity brothers, are what keep the film moving until its final act, in which it manages to break free of college-driven confines of its plot and surprise us with a message that few, if any, big family movies have ever tried to communicate. I won't spoil the ending, but as we all know from Monsters, Inc., Mike didn't become a scarer, he became Sulley's scare coach and partner at work, and Monsters University deftly handles the notion that sometimes our dreams can't quite come true, and our lives are fulfilled when we can do something we love for which we actually have a talent.
Billy Crystal is key to communicating this eventual revelation in Mike, as he channels young optimism and determination, not to mention a brainy, know-it-all attitude, all of which let him think that his brains can make up for his sever lack of brawn. John Goodman brings depth to Sulley's internal conflict, being a slacker who seemingly doesn't deserve his family name, and he and Crystal together bring to life characters that still have fantastic chemistry, more than ten years later*. Mirren is an excellent choice to play the imposing dragon-centipede hybrid that is Dean Hardscrabble, perfectly inhabiting a role that is more bone-chilling than flat out terrifying, which is perhaps the best way to portray a dean. Nathan Fillion is well cast as the hotshot head member of Roar Omega Roar, the top fraternity on campus, just as Aubrey Plaza and Tyler Labine are smart choices for the disparately enthusiastic Greek Council president and vice-president, respectively. Mike and Sulley's frat, Oozma Kappa (because it's members are just OK), is brimming with fun personalties brought to life by Joel Murray (Freddy Rumsen on Mad Men), Peter Sohn, Charlie Day, and Dave Foley and Sean Hayes as the heads of a two-headed monster with differing tastes and majors. Monsters veterans like John Ratzenberger, Bonnie Hunt, and Steve Buscemi lend their voices once more, as do reputable newcomers Julia Sweeney, John Krasinski, and Alfred Molina.
Director and co-writer Dan Scanlon, along with producer Kori Rae, have reached an agreeable and realistic middle ground on which future Pixar sequels and prequels can safely land. Monsters University is a Pixar film that falls short of its studio's greatest efforts, lacking the unparalleled emotional depth found in Up and Toy Story 3, but retaining the heart and charm that are Pixar's trademark qualities. The brain trust in Emeryville consistently delivers films that are a cut above the rest, and Monsters University is most certainly a welcome addition to its growing library. As composer Randy Newman's rich, academic alma mater proclaims about MU, "No matter where life takes us, Your light will come shining through," and as someone who's grown up on Pixar movies (and is now quite appropriately in college), no statement could be more true of the animation studio. "Oh, Monsters University – Alma Mater, hail to you." 8/10
*Yes, I'm aware that Crystal and Goodman likely did not record their voices together for Monsters University together, which is quite normal in animation, but they do such great work individually that when the Pixar editors put it together it works seamlessly.