FILM REVIEW | Monsters University

Twelve years ago we were introduced to Sulley (John Goodman), Mike (Billy Cristal) and Randle (Steve Buscemi), Monsters Incorporated’s best scarers (and coach) when it comes to generating energy for Monstropolis.

Twelve years later and we’ve travelled back in time to see how Mike, Sulley and Randle became the people we were introduced to twelve years ago.

Welcome to Monsters University – the Ivy League for monsters everywhere!

Think Mean Girls in terms of introductions…you’ve got your Jocks, Goths, Cheerleaders, Art Freaks and the worst…the ‘OKs’ – the Oozma Kappa Brothers.

The Story

If you were fourteen and younger when Monsters Inc. came onto the screen in 2001, then Monsters University is written for you! Back then it was a story about our childhood fears of monsters under our beds and a film that explained to us why our screams were important to the monster world. Now it’s about their college years as we make our own college experiences.

I love that it’s a twist in the internal relationships between the characters that we were introduced to in 2001. It’s still got the heart of friendship, teamwork and friendly competition that Monsters Inc. had, but this time we have the back story and understand how Mike and Sulley became the friends that we were introduced to twelve years ago.

Monsters University was not just written as a new childhood film for this generation, it’s a film for those who remember what their childhood was when we first met the Monsters Inc. crew. We grew up with them and, through Monsters University, we are reliving their memories through our realities today.

The Cast

The Original Cast

Reprising their roles, Billy Cristal (Mike), John Goodman (Sulley) and Steve Buscemi (Randle) bring their characters to life by shedding twelve years off their age. Bringing high hopes, first day jitters and that freshmen confidence, these three recognisable voices bring a familiarity to a see of fresh voices that bring Monsters University to life. Although they’re our beloved voices, it’s great to hear a different side to each of the characters that we fell in-love with twelve years ago.

New Comers

Helen Mirren (Dean Hardscrabble) joins the cast with an overbearing tone that just chills the bones – perfect for a dragon-slash-centipede like monster with the highest know record in scaring history!

Peter Sohn (Squishy), Joel Murray (Don), Will and Grace’s, Sean Hayes (Terri), Dave Foley (Terry) and Charlie Day (Art) bring to life the Oozma Kappa fraternity who come along side Sulley and Mike. The differences between all of these characters would have been nothing without the incredible voices behind the brightly coloured monsters of the OK Brothers. Providing the comic relief and even the touching moments in the film, this band of brothers were an exciting addition to the Monsters Inc. pact.

Castle’s, Nathan Fillion also joins the crew in lending his voice to Roar Omega Roar’s fraternity president, “Johnny”. Every film needs a tough guy and Johnny is the toughest of them all. Fillion did a brilliant job bringing “Johnny-big-man-on-campus” to life in a way that allows audiences to hate him and love him all at once.

The Art Department – Animating The College Experience

Disney Pixar wowed us with their eclectic mix of monsters twelve years ago and they’ve wowed us again with the variety of monsters twelve years later. I think the great thing with a project that allows a lot more imagination like Monsters Inc. and Monsters University, you have a clean slate every time you create a new character.

It was important for the animators to really capture the different characteristics of each fraternity in not just their individual looks, but also in how they come together as a collection. On top of that, creating several other monsters who weren’t fraternity monsters! I was a big task, and a task well executed by the animators.

OVERALL:

It’s a great movie for ALL generations. Kids of today will love the thrill of the story and fall in love with the characters. Those of us who fell in love with Monsters Inc. will relate even more with the characters we met in 2001 and appreciate a film written for us. Although it’s very American in terms of the college display, its universal elements of friendship, growing up and what the future looks like brought a heart-warming and nostalgic aspect to the film. Don’t miss it!

sL Star Rating: 4.5 Stars

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