‘Monsters University’ sends Mike, Sullivan to school

The original Monsters, Inc. is an enjoyable Pixar film that fails to rank among the company’s best. The sequel, Monsters University, actually feels more heartfelt and superior to its predecessor. The voice talents of Billy Crystal as Mike and John Goodman as Sullivan are on fine display, and the animation style is that usual Pixar perfection. What makes this second installment better than the first is a well-defined plot that has the monsters fighting for a common goal. Monsters, Inc. was all about introductions to this new world, while Monsters University is able to dig a little deeper.

Calling the movie a sequel is actually wrong. Monsters University stands as a prequel, showing us Mike and Sullivan’s travails at monster school. Much like we learned in the original, Mike is crazy about being a monster, but unfortunately he’s all talk and little bite. His green body and cyclops eye fail to scare children; instead, the toddlers think he’s more of a teddy bear. Sullivan, on the other hand, simply needs to bare his teeth and screams are instantly produced. Together, they make an unlikely duo. Mike is textbook smart, while Sullivan is street smart. However, the problem is that neither one of them can advance far at Monsters University without help from the other.

There are several new characters in this prequel, including Dean Hardscrabble (Helen Mirren), Squishy (Peter Sohn) and Professor Knight (Alfred Molina). Randy (Steve Buscemi) returns, but he’s not much of a villain. The central conceit of the movie is Sullivan and Mike’s overcoming the odds to see the value in their joint friendship. There’s not much time for anything else.

Like many Pixar films, the dialogue is sharp and never dumbed down to the kiddie level. The plot has many surprises, even though it meanders for a bit in the middle. There are so many lessons that can be learned from the animated flick, making it an ideal movie for families with youngsters. Watching Mike and Sullivan fail, fail, fail, all on their path to success, success, success, is an educational experience. They have much to teach, even for those human beings not interested in attending scare school. This may be one of the most intelligent films about the collegial experience, showing the merits of hard work and a studious behavior.

Director Dan Scanlon, who co-wrote the film with Daniel Gerson and Robert L. Baird, plays the “school” theme to its highest potential. There are so many inside jokes about college that Monsters University feels like a sarcastic Animal House. There’s the fraternity scenes, the classroom scenes, the run-ins with the dean. I was half-expecting John Belushi to pop out and make a mashed potato pimple.

The best attributes of the original film are luckily highlighted again in the prequel: Crystal and Goodman. These two actors have a mastery over their characters, making Mike and Sullivan a superb comedy duo. Mike is all talk, while Sullivan is all scares. Together, they’re priceless.

By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com

• Monsters University

• 2013

• Directed by Dan Scanlon

• Written by Scanlon, Daniel Gerson and Robert L. Baird

• Starring the voice talents of Billy Crystal, John Goodman, Steve Buscemi and Helen Mirren

• Running time: 104 minutes

• Rated G

• Rating: