Monsters Inc.

Rating: Good

Distributor: Walt Disney Pictures
Release Date: November 2nd, 2001 (wide)
Running Length: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Genre: Family, Animation, Fantasy
MPAA Rating: G
Director: Peter Docter, and David Silverman
Voices: Billy Crystal, John Goodman, James Coburn, Jennifer Tilly, Mary Gibbs, Steve Buscemi, Bob Peterson, John Ratzenberger, Frank Oz, and Bonnie Hunt.

picture above from www.ew.com/ew/report/0,6115,183436~1~~,00.html

Plot: Mike (Billy Crystal) and Sully (John Goodman) work at Monsters Inc. Monsters Inc. is a corporation that gives light to all of the monster city. It does so by sending its scary monsters into magical doors that lead to children's rooms at night (the monsters appear through closets). The monsters then scare children into screaming, which generates energy for the monster world. Sully is the most effective of all the monsters at scaring children, and Mike is on his team. Mike aids Sully in getting in and out of the doors. However, the two monsters find their lives changed irrevocably when a child escapes into the monster world. Monsters are actually very frightened of children, even though most children are frightened of monsters. Meanwhile, there is an evil monster who wants to reform the monster scaring system in sinister ways.

               Critique: Monsters Inc. contains warm characters, and exudes a pleasing feeling. It does not have the creative scope, or inventiveness of Spy Kids, and it does not have the emotional depth of Shrek. Nonetheless, Monsters Inc. still has enough good characteristics to make it a very recommendable motion picture. It is genuine and enjoyable. Where the film lacks of in storytelling ambition, it makes up for in wonderfully constructed characters. Billy Crystal and John Goodman are terrific, and give their characters a plethora of life. Additionally its primary target audience, children, should find it a pleasing package. The film should be an entertaining picture for any age group.
                 The premise of the film is enchanting and creative. However, the filmmakers must have thought they had filled their creative quota after that. The story is compelling and enjoyable enough, but it never fills the promises of the extraordinary premise. There is a noticeable gap in storytelling momentum in the middle of the film, until the film hits its exciting and well thought out climax. This allows the film to leave the viewer with a guaranteed pleasant taste. Even though the middle is not as strong as it could have been, Monsters Inc. remains entertaining because of its consistent strengths. The film is charged by its characters, and it can do little wrong to ruin what they bring to it. I'll admit, an asset to the characters is their adorable looks. The cute appeal is actually a key factor in making the film likable.
                In conclusion, Monsters Inc. is an enjoyable motion picture. Its wonderful characters and spirit make the film very worthwhile. I recommend Monsters Inc. to everyone, with confidence of its wide appeal.

                                 review by supernothingman