Film Review: "Monsters University" (2013).

"School Never Looked This Scary" Which is what kids should excited for when Monsters University hit cinemas. This 3D computer-animated comedy film produced by Pixar Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures. The film was directed by Dan Scanlon, instead of the previous directors, Pete Doctor, Lee Unkrich and David Silverman. It is the fourteenth film produced by Pixar and the prequel to 2001's Monsters, Inc., the first time Pixar has made a prequel. 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 and shows a look at the relationship between Mike and Sulley during their days at Monsters University and how they overcame their differences and became the best of friends.

Billy Crystal, John Goodman, Steve Buscemi, Bob Peterson, and John Ratzenberger reprise their roles as Mike Wazowski, James P. Sullivan, Randall Boggs, Roz, and The Abominable Snowman, respectively. The film also stars Sean Hayes, Dave Foley, Charlie Day, Helen Mirren, Alfred Molina and Nathan Fillion. The performances in this film were all as great and varied as their monstrous counterparts. Crystal and Goodman return just as humorous and great as ever. They brought the same enjoyable vibe from the first film. Buscemi's performance was a great performance but was not as strong as it was in the first film. Hayes and Foley brought a hilarious performance as Terry and Terri, the two headed Oozma Kappa fraternity member. Day brought a great performance and was impressed with his last performance in Pacific Rim (2013). Mirren brought one of her most chilling performances in a children's film. Her performance was the epitome of what you would expect from a stereotypical dean of a college: cold, methodical and frightening. Molina gave another unexpected performance in a tiny role for this film. His performance was an excellent example in the sense that you did not know it was him. As an actor that is a great achievement in itself. Lastly, Fillion gave a wonderful performance and it was great to see him on the big-screen since my days of following him on Firefly (2002), Serenity (2005) and Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog (2008).

Monsters University is as visually appealing as any other Pixar production, but all that dazzle can't disguise the rusty storytelling and scare tactics that has gone to waste. The movie is so stuffed with "fun" that it went right off the rails. What on earth was the gifted director-mogul John Lasseter thinking – that he wanted kids to come out of this movie was that was nothing more than a rehash of the original. The original was fun and was met with warmth and open arms, this film however is totally… average. The film does what many sequels ever do. It essentially remakes the earlier film and attempts to deem it a “sequel” or “prequel”, the creative team, at Pixar, fail somewhat to delve deeper into their characters while retaining the fun spirit of the original film.

Simon says Monsters University receives:

Also, see my review for Brave.