Voices of Billy Crystal, John Goodman, Steve Buscemi, James Coburn, Jennifer Tilly,
John Ratzenburger. Directed by Pete Docter and David Silverman.
Behind the closet often lives monsters that little children are afraid of. What you don't
know is that those closet doors are secret passages doors to Monster City, where Monster
Inc. is set up to bottle little children's screams. This energy is used to fuel the city
and their way of life. Sulley (Goodman) is the top scarer in the company, emitting a roar
guaranteed to scare the socks off any child. His best friend Mike (Crystal) is his
technician and confidant. Sulley's chief rival is Randall (Buscemi), a conniving
lizard who has the ability to blend into his surroundings. The irony is that the
scarers are actually afraid of the children, being told by their boss (Coburn) that
the mere touch of a child can kill a monster. The CDA (Child Detection Agency) is
called in when the slightest sign or object of a child is brought back.
One day Sulley goes back to get some paperwork on the scare floor, and he discovers
a door at Randall's station. Sulley opens it, enters and sees nothing, and then shuts
it. To his fright he discovers a little girl chasing his tail, and to his amazement
she is unafraid. She keeps following him and he's
unable to put her back into her home. He finds Mike to help him dispose of the baby,
but the baby is discovered by onlookers in a restaurant, and the CDA swoops in to clean
up the contamination. Sulley and Mike escape with the little girl Sulley calls Boo, and
the duo must try to find a way to get her back through her door before anyone else
discovers her presence.
By the same Pixar team that created the Toy Story movies, Monsters Inc. is a
beautifully animated story set in a wonderfully imaginative world. The animation is amazingly
real, with facial expressions of characters, especially the little girl, exceptionally
expressive and life-like. Character movement is depicted in a very realistic way -
in one seen where Sulley's fur is blowing in the wind,
each hair moves in very realistic way. The parallel universe of Monster City is very
creative, from the huge Monster Inc. factory, to the No Stalking signs to the street
vendors and their shops. The colours are bright and vibrant.
More warm and charming than sappy, there is plenty of heart in the film, and the
bond between Sully and Boo exudes more chemistry than between most human stars. There
are occasional moments that were scary for the young kids in the crowd, but the charm
and enough laughs came quickly enough to keep the young viewers happy. While Sully
and Mike are enjoyable enough, the real star of the show is the cutey pie little girl Boo.
Alternatingly naive and adventurous plus consistently good natured, her happily roaming
around and giggling and the boys reaction to her provide much of the fun in the film.
A plot twist about three-quarters of the way into the film, and an abrupt but totally
endearing ending have the audience leaving happy and entertained.
Where Shrek was geared more towards older kids and adults, Monsters Inc.
is aimed at the young kids, but adults will enjoy it too. It is young at heart, but
not childish or simplistic. Treat yourself and your loved ones to one of the better
movies of the year.
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