The Monster Mush (Monsters Inc. (DVD))

Member Name: buttonman

Product:	Monsters Inc. (DVD)
Date:	03/03/02 (71 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Looks nice

Disadvantages: Soppy and twee

Don't you just hate it when they make cartoons for kids? Animation is clearly an adult art form with prime television examples being 'The Simpsons', 'Family Guy' and 'King of the Hill'. I don't rate 'South Park'. In the movies films like 'Toy Story 1 & 2' have had adult content whilst inhabiting an ostensibly youthful premise whilst 'Final Fantasy' looked great and although dull wasn't aimed at the ankle biters. So what made the previously untouchable Pixar studios get involved in this tosh? Well I?m getting ahead of myself, first tell us the tale Steve!

PLOT
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Set in the fictional (?) Monstropolis the film tells the story of James P. 'Sulley' Sullivan and Michael 'Mike' Wazowski who work at the scream factory. In this world power is provided by the screams from the children from this dimension. Every kids' bedroom door is accessible to the cavalcade of monsters who's job it is to run in and scare the kid whilst his partner bottles up the screams for energy. Sulley and Mike are the best and the scream record is in sight.

There are however clouds on the horizon with kids becoming harder to scare an energy crisis looms. All is going well for our heroes however until a small girl crosses into the monsters' realm causing chaos. It's established early on that kids are thought lethal to monsters and her presence is soon national news.

Mike and Sulley realize they have to return the girl they call Boo to her own world or their careers may be threatened. The plot is that thin with only small sub plots involving baddie monster Randall Boggs and a new super scaring machine.

THOUGHTS
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This film had a good central premise that the monsters kids believe live in their cupboards are actually real. It was however aimed at the tot market with only passing interest for saccharin overdosing sentimentalists. Although they
are all monsters some are nice and some nasty. If the job is infiltrating alternate dimensions and scaring kids you think they all would be less than nice. The character Boo speaks only in goo-goos and whimpers and is annoying throughout. The Boo/Sulley relationship is cringeworthy throughout and I could hardly watch several scenes without an insulin drip.

The animation is top notch and easily on par with 'Toy Story 2'. Individual hairs are visible and the settings and backdrops are faultless. The two central characters, a Blue furry monster and a green eyeball on legs appear to have been designed with the merchandising in mind but hey it's Disney! There are nods to other films with references to 'A Bug?s Life' and 'Toy Story 2' but this is as close the film gets to the charm of these earlier efforts.

Don't get me wrong the film is pure quality but if you are over seven take out any cynicism you may have before entering the multi-plex. There are some funny lines such as Mike choosing a deodorant "should I use 'wet dog' or 'old garbage'? ?. I also liked Sulley in training, tip toeing along as his boss barked out instructions "Kid?s sleeping-Kids awake!" as he goes to the floor tiger rug style.

John Goodman and Billy Crystal voice the two leads. For me using well-known actors lessened the appeal of the film. I always was aware it was them and not a REAL monster! As ever Billy Crystal overacted to the highest degree and most of his deliveries were shouted. Goodman was better but had the lesser role as the nice monster who cares for the little girl - Awwwww!

Overall your kids will love it and at 80 minutes or so it?s a lot more bearable than the new Pokemon outing. Not the broad appeal of 'Toy Story' but technically marvelous and a happy ending to boot. Not this old cynic's cup of tea though.

Summary: