Monsters, Inc. Review
by Homer Yen (homer_yen AT yahoo DOT com)November 12th, 2001
“Monsters, Inc.” – All Who Like This Film, Say ‘Eye’
“Monster, Inc.” is an enjoyable computer-animated tale from the folks that brought you the Toy Story films. And like those two terrific films, this one also offers superb animation, life-like effects, and a wonderfully envisioned world. But most of all, it offers a pleasing tale of friendship, a fun sense of adventure, an eyeful of creativity, and a running supply of gags.
It tells the story of Big Sully (voiced by John Goodman), a lovable oaf of a monster who is more cuddly than creepy and more fuzzy-wuzzy than frightening. His furry coat of green, purple and blue makes him look like one of those giant prizes that you’d like to win at the carnival. Everybody say “Awww…”
His best buddy, Mike (voiced by the loquacious Billy Crystal), also has good intentions although his appearance is less appealing. He sort of resembles a gigantic green ping-pong ball with arms, lets, antennae and one huge eye. He talks incessantly with a Sammy Davis Jr. kind of twang. But there isn’t an ounce of meanness within him. Together, they work at a utility company (called Monsters, Inc.) where most of their days pass by uneventfully.
This, however, translates into a noticeable lack of dramatic build. The filmmakers seem to want show off their creativity rather than focus on building pathos. Thus, the story that revolves around their partnership is not as affecting as Woody and Buzz Lightyear. Still, the creativity displayed is still endlessly clever.
For example, there is an odd array of colorful monsters ranging from the furry to the scaly to the slimy to the Argus-eyed. Expect to see them in a Happy Meal in the near future! And a brilliant explanation is given as to why monsters are so mean. In the world of Monstropolis where these creatures live, screams from children are their sole source of power. So Sully (and many other monsters) travels through portals into a child's bedroom late at night and scares them. Well, it’s a living.
The film starts to find its groove once their adventure begins. On one front, they are being affronted by Randall (Steve Buscemi), a jealous, chameleon-like co-worker. He is intent on displacing Big Sully as top dog…er, monster. More serious, however, is that a child has somehow wandered into Monstropolis. Big Sully is the first to find her and tries to discreetly transport her back. However, other dark forces would like to capture her for their own dastardly reasons.
“Monsters, Inc.” is a workhorse of a movie that strives to please us. And that’s a difficult task. The child never really says anything except mutter that googoogaga baby language. But we feel rapport between Sully and her as they come to an understanding, This allows the audience to see that monsters aren’t really bad, they’re just misunderstood. And then there’s Mike, who seems incapable of expressing emotion because, after all, he’s basically a giant ball with an eye. But the filmmakers and Crystal’s comic timing and inflections evoke lots of personality -- more than you’d think by just by looking at him from the promotional posters. And there’s a great final sequence in which a roller-coaster-like pursuit occurs within a warehouse and through a series of portals. How can we not be entertained when it’s obvious that the creators have tried so hard?
Grade: B
S: 0 out of 3
L: 0 out of 3
V: 0 out of 3
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