Monsters University, while certainly not the strongest entry in the Disney/Pixar catalog, is a fine prequel that once again showcases Pixar’s amazing attention to detail and provides audiences with a “classic” college film with a monster twist.
Right from the get-go with their newest short film, The Blue Umbrella, Pixar’s incredible animation skills are highlighted. In all seriousness, for the first few seconds I really did believe Pixar was doing their first live-action short, that’s how realistic everything looked! Again, this short film is not their strongest (especially after the highly imaginative La Luna), but once again demonstrates how well Pixar can make a love story with inanimate objects in such a short amount of time with no dialogue!
Anyway, back to the heart of the matter. Monsters University focuses mainly on the story of everyone’s favorite little green cyclops, Mike Wazowski (Billy Crystal). We see how from the beginning, no one really believed in him or thought he was capable of being a Scarer, the most prestigious job in the Monster universe. From here on out, Pixar works its magic once again and finds a way to make you connect with Mike and his struggles, and root for him till the very end! It’s a wonderful story about self-discovery/self-acceptance, perseverance, and never giving up on your dreams. This message also comes through in the other endearing characters from Mike’s fraternity, Oozma Kappa, and of course James Sullivan (John Goodman).
What I really appreciated was not only Pixar’s attention to detail in how a university looks (it looked like a classic, Ivy League institution with brick buildings and ornate architecture), but in how it feels as well. From having little traditions all the students do (rubbing the claw of a monster on their way to class, much like rubbing the foot of the Harvard statue), to having frat/club rush week (and the typical college students that come along with them, from jocks and cheerleaders to emos and hippies), to displaying typical college student behavior (hacky sack, ultimate frisbee, playing guitar out on the lawn, going to frat parties [obviously edited for family viewing]), I believed like I was taking a tour of a real college campus and seeing into the lives of real college students.
Like every Disney/Pixar film, the story has its moments of humor balanced out with touching/moving moments. I will admit flat-out that I was moved to tears in Monsters, Inc. (how can you not want to cry when you see that door fixed and you hear Boo say “kitty”?). While I wasn’t shedding any tears for this movie, it did strike a chord with me emotionally, particularly in regards to Mike; I felt bad for Mike when he was hurting, and when he was able to overcome obstacles I was elated! In addition, props to actress Helen Mirren who added some good moments of dramatic tension playing the intimidating Dean.
SPOILER ALERT BELOW!
My one gripe with the movie is that it shows how you can be successful without a college degree, since Mike and Sully get expelled at the end. This is only a gripe for me because my current job is encouraging kids to go to college so that they can become successful. Otherwise, I do appreciate how it shows Mike and Sully starting from the bottom (in the mailroom) and working hard to steadily make their way to the top as a Scare Team.
SPOILER DONE!
FINAL DIAGNOSIS: 9/10
While it’s not Disney/Pixar’s best film to date (for me personally it’s a tie between Ratatouille and The Incredibles, though Wall-E and Up are close behind), its a charming movie that pays homage to other classic college/coming-of-age stories. The animation is incredible, and the research that went into making Monsters University feel like a real college campus made the film feel authentic. As always, the characters are likable and relatable (even the new ones). If you’re a fan of the first film, Monsters, Inc., then I believe you will enjoy this film and its subtle nods to the original.
Dr. A's Diagnoses 