Monsters University
2/4
Starring (voices): Billy Crystal, John Goodman, Helen Mirren, Joel Murray, Sean Hayes, Dave Foley, Helen Mirren
Rated G
"Toy Story." "Toy Story 2." "Monsters Inc." "The Incredibles." "Finding Nemo." "Brave."
Those are a few of the masterpieces that Pixar Animation Studios has produced over the past 18 years. Sadly, "Monsters University" is not among them. It's not a bad movie, just a mediocre one.
"Monsters Inc." introduced moviegoers to an interesting world where monsters are not only real, they scare kids for energy. It told a complete story with a beginning, middle and end. Although the idea for the film's prequel is interesting and, with the chemistry and talent of Billy Crystal and John Goodman, had potential, it's mostly unrealized.
Mike Wazowski (Crystal) has wanted to be a scarer ever since he snuck in with a legendary scarer to watch him work. Ever since then, becoming a scarer has become his sole focus. Before he walked on campus, he knew more about scaring than anyone. What he lacks is talent. Despite his best attempts, he's not very scary. Meanwhile, James "Sulley" Sullivan (Goodman), comes from a family of legendary scarers, and thinks he can coast through on his family name and his talent. When their rivalry gets them kicked out of the famous scaring program by the frightening Dean Hardscrabble (Mirren), they'll have to work together to win a competition in order to get back into the program, or Mike gets expelled.
"Monsters University is the sitcom offspring of "Revenge of the Nerds" and "Harry Potter." The idea has merit, but the execution does not. The plot is anemic and plays safe at nearly every turn. The humor is limp to bordering on non-existent (did director Dan Scanlon let Crystal improvise at all?). Only one scene made me laugh. And the heart that separates all Pixar movies from the rest is missing completely. Mike and Sully were protagonists that we felt for in the first one. Here, they're stick figures.
Crystal and Goodman slide easily back into their roles, although the chemistry is diluted due to the nature of the story. Helen Mirren is clearly slumming for a paycheck. Of the cast, no one else bears a mention.
Director Dan Scanlon plays it so safe that the movie becomes stale. It reeks of being written by committee. There are far too many action sequences and too little laughs, including one that's in kind of bad taste for a kids movie (and it's not very funny). Like Feburary's disaster, "Identity Thief," the most amusing gag from the trailer (the party in the dorms where Mike gets decked out like a disco ball) isn't in the movie.
This isn't a bad movie. Just a depressingly mediocre one. And that's a huge disappointment coming from Pixar. Maybe next time guys.
Starring (voices): Billy Crystal, John Goodman, Helen Mirren, Joel Murray, Sean Hayes, Dave Foley, Helen Mirren
Rated G
"Toy Story." "Toy Story 2." "Monsters Inc." "The Incredibles." "Finding Nemo." "Brave."
Those are a few of the masterpieces that Pixar Animation Studios has produced over the past 18 years. Sadly, "Monsters University" is not among them. It's not a bad movie, just a mediocre one.
"Monsters Inc." introduced moviegoers to an interesting world where monsters are not only real, they scare kids for energy. It told a complete story with a beginning, middle and end. Although the idea for the film's prequel is interesting and, with the chemistry and talent of Billy Crystal and John Goodman, had potential, it's mostly unrealized.
Mike Wazowski (Crystal) has wanted to be a scarer ever since he snuck in with a legendary scarer to watch him work. Ever since then, becoming a scarer has become his sole focus. Before he walked on campus, he knew more about scaring than anyone. What he lacks is talent. Despite his best attempts, he's not very scary. Meanwhile, James "Sulley" Sullivan (Goodman), comes from a family of legendary scarers, and thinks he can coast through on his family name and his talent. When their rivalry gets them kicked out of the famous scaring program by the frightening Dean Hardscrabble (Mirren), they'll have to work together to win a competition in order to get back into the program, or Mike gets expelled.
"Monsters University is the sitcom offspring of "Revenge of the Nerds" and "Harry Potter." The idea has merit, but the execution does not. The plot is anemic and plays safe at nearly every turn. The humor is limp to bordering on non-existent (did director Dan Scanlon let Crystal improvise at all?). Only one scene made me laugh. And the heart that separates all Pixar movies from the rest is missing completely. Mike and Sully were protagonists that we felt for in the first one. Here, they're stick figures.
Crystal and Goodman slide easily back into their roles, although the chemistry is diluted due to the nature of the story. Helen Mirren is clearly slumming for a paycheck. Of the cast, no one else bears a mention.
Director Dan Scanlon plays it so safe that the movie becomes stale. It reeks of being written by committee. There are far too many action sequences and too little laughs, including one that's in kind of bad taste for a kids movie (and it's not very funny). Like Feburary's disaster, "Identity Thief," the most amusing gag from the trailer (the party in the dorms where Mike gets decked out like a disco ball) isn't in the movie.
This isn't a bad movie. Just a depressingly mediocre one. And that's a huge disappointment coming from Pixar. Maybe next time guys.
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