These reviews are a lot harder to write when you don’t have anything nasty to say about a movie. And that is exactly the case with the new Pixar release, “Monsters, Inc.”
The movie is pure entertainment perfection, and I have to admit that I loved every second of it. I guess I am just a big softy at heart.
But the movie is not overly sugary, and it’s not ridiculous. It’s fun from beginning to end. An audience won’t even notice the frequent screams and tantrums from all the kids in the theater, unless they’re right next to you. You’ll be too busy enjoying the movie.
To use a cliché, I laughed and, yes - I’ll admit it - my eyes even welled up a couple of times.
To rave about this movie is pretty easy. The animation is spectacular, as anyone who has seen Pixar’s other two big releases, 1995’s “Toy Story” and 1999’s “Toy Story 2” knows. The color palette is magnificent, and the attention to detail is wonderful.
The story is also inventive, intriguing and entertaining. In it, the monsters who populate an alternate world from Earth, Monstropolis, need to utilize the screams of children to power their world. But in truth, the creatures are afraid of the kids, so only the most brave monsters go through special doors to the closets of sleeping youngsters to collect the energy. But when a young girl manages to get into Monstropolis, two monsters figure out that kids aren’t all bad and that there may be a better way.
And best of all, the voice work of John Goodman, as Sulley, Monsters, Inc.’s best employee, and Billy Crystal as Mike, Sulley’s best friend. The pair work extremely well together, and because of the spectacular visuals and great voice work, for an hour and a half, you forget that it’s not real and become totally absorbed into the world of the film.
Also of great note is Steve Buscemi’s work as Randall, the evil co-worker who’s out to one-up Sulley on the scare totals. Even in animation, Buscemi can pack a great deal of sinister into a role.
The only possible complaint may be that it may be a bit too much for the very young. While the movie is rated G, quite a few of the kids in the audience I witnessed shrieked and cried, and a few even had to leave. There are a few chills, and some noisy shocks that could be a little excessive for a very young child.
But being the old geezer that I am, something tells me that anyone older than 8 will not have any problems. In fact, I’m probably more squeamish than the average 10-year-old.
“Monsters, Inc.” is likely to entertain anyone who checks it out. A great movie for all ages, this one is a blast to watch. I may even have to see it again while it’s in the theaters.
