MONSTERS UNIVERSITY (2013)

Directed By: Dan Scanlon 
Written & Story By: Dan Scanlon, Robert L. Baird & Daniel Gerson 
Editor: Greg Snyder 

 Cast: (Voices of) John Goodman, Billy Crystal, Helen Mirren, John Ratzenberger, Steve Buscemi, Joel Murray, Sean Hayes, Dave Foley, Aubrey Plaza, Charlie Day, Alfred Molina, Tyler Labine, Nathan Fillion, BillHader,John Krasinski, Bonnie Hunt, Julia Sweeney, Bobby Moynihan

Mike Wazowski and James P. Sullivan are an inseparable pair, but that wasn't always the case. From the moment these two mismatched monsters met they couldn't stand each other. "Monsters University" unlocks the door to how Mike and Sulley overcame their differences and became the best of friends.

Well it is hard to make a sequel to match the original and continue a story that makes you care as much especially as you already have been introduced to the characters so their isn't much to reveal and when it does it feels almost like a cop out. So what to do make a prequel. Which shows us how he characters got to the place of the first film. How they met and became friends. The good thing is it allows the audience to be reintroduced to the characters again when they were younger and not so knowledgeable. The problem lies in that we already know their future for the most part so there isn't that much suspense it relies on the story and film to keep us interested as we get there. The film can still surprise us, but must stay in the plausible realm and not introduce elements that never come into play later. At least they can introduce new characters and give us some insight Into ones we see in the original, but only one dimensional.

Here there are many hilarious side and minor characters.

I am a big fan of the original film and was pleasantly surprised at how this film keeps the same amount of humor out of the little details. Now the original was grand in scope. This seems a little more contained and suffers a bit because of it. Yet t still manages to be fun and funny. Thanks to a bigger supporting cast. Though I will say that as a fan of the first film this isn’t quite as good, but a nice continuation.

Mike's parents were originally planned to be included in the story. They would drop Mike off for his first day at Monsters University. However, director Dan Scanlon decided to drop them from the finished film to make Mike seem just that much more vulnerable.

There is a line in the first MONSTERS INC. Where Mike says that Sully has been jealous of his looks since the fourth grade. Since this movie was going to show Mike and Sully meeting in college, it obviously contradicts that line. Director Dan Scanlon admitted that there was some conflict behind that and even had one treatment show Sully and Mike meeting in the fourth grade than skipping ahead to their university years. Pete Docter (director of the first Monsters, Inc.) and John Lasseter personally told Scanlon that they loved that he was honoring that one line said in the movie, but he "...had to what was best for the story". As a result, the line was put aside and Sully and Mike would be shown meeting in university. As a joke, Scanlon said that Mikes like in the first movie is "an old monster expression."

One of the things that bothers me about these films is what they are marketed on the fact that these scary monsters while a bit freakish look so cuddly.

John Ratzenberger makes his traditional Pixar film appearance, reprising his role as Yeti (a.k.a. The Abonimable Snowman) from Monsters, Inc.. Yeti's job in the Monsters, Inc. mailroom is a nod to John's famous role as postman Cliff Clavin in Cheers. Yeti warns Mike and Sully that tampering with the mail is punishable by exile to the human world, foreshadowing his exile in Monsters, Inc.

It also sends a mixed message that what we fear are largely made up by ourselves with a mixture of circumstances. That those bumps in the night are truly more simple and innocent then what our imaginations have written for us to believe in the moment. It also seems to teach you to Nurture more the. Natural talent to reach your desire. Though it also says you don't necessarily need school of you have the desire and drive you can still achieve what you want. Which is true for some bit certainly not all.

This film can't help but charm you and you may even find yourself getting a bit emotional towards the end as you don't want to leave these characters and are proud of them. The supporting cast of characters are hilarious that i would see a spin-off movie with them on at least a short film adventure with them.

This is the best Billy crystal has been in awhile even of it is just his voice. Though with this film it doesn't feel like he is ab-libbing or doing as much shtick as he did the first time. He seems much more tied to the script.

While not as great as the original a respectable companion to It.

 Grade: B