Monsters University
Disney/Pixar's prequel to Monsters, Inc. (2001) about one-eyed Mike and big Sully's rocky road to friendship after first meeting at university. Billy Crystal and John Goodman again voice the pair, joined by Steve Buscemi and freshmen to the series Helen Mirren and Charlie Day.
Inspired by seeing a professional in the act when he was a child, Mike devoted his schooling days to becoming a scarer, even though his stumpy appearance is anything but frightening. Determined to ace his first semester at Monsters University, he runs into Sully: a slacker who gets by on his monstrous frame and family reputation. When an incident puts the pair in hot water with the Dean, the duo are forced to work together in the annual Scare Games to avoid getting expelled.
This is director Dan Scalon's first animated film but he's a Disney man, co-directing short Mater and the Ghostlight and working as storyboard artist on features including Cars.
- Director:
- Dan Scanlon ('Mater and the Ghostlight')
- Writer:
- Robert L. BairdDaniel GersonDan Scanlon
- Cast:
- Billy CrystalJohn GoodmanJennifer TillySteve BuscemiFrank OzJohn RatzenbergerHelen MirrenCharlie DayAlfred MolinaAubrey PlazaNathan FillionBill Hader
Reviews & comments
Variety
pressZippy, bright-minded prequel scarcely needed to exist, yet makes for perfectly agreeable entertainment now that it does... Deals honestly and inventively with the hard reality that some talents can't be taught and some dreams remain unfulfilled.
Total Film
pressPixar falls back on the tried and tested in an entertaining caper that will be a surefire kid pleaser this summer. Old favourites are always welcome, but it would have been nice to see some more new ideas too.
Time Out
pressIf the film lacks the heartbreaking quality of Pixar's revolutionary best, there's no demerit in playing it solid and safe for a change.
The New York Times
pressBoth the originality and stirring emotional complexity of "Monsters, Inc.," with its exquisitely painful and touching parallels with the human world, are missing ...
Hollywood Reporter
pressAn alarmingly lame effort from Pixar... The third consecutive less-than-first-class Pixar entry.
Empire Magazine
pressDazzlingly clever and hugely funny, it succeeds both as a broadening of the Monsters universe and as a film in its own right. Monsters University had a tough task, and it’s passed with honours.
A.V. Club
pressA gentle, poky riff on college-comedy clichés, complete with a villainous, snobbish fraternity, a heroic, outcast fraternity, and a stuffy, intimidating dean (Helen Mirren, wonderfully severe).
Not as good as the first Monsters Inc. movie, but still enjoyable. Good for a laugh with friends or if you have kids. Don't expect too much from it; it's not one of the "clever" Pixar movies.
Pixar! What's happened to you? Better than Cars & Brave, worse than Toy Story, Up, The Incredibles & Wall-E. Lower your expectations and you'll have fun. Kids will like it.
Fraternity shenanigan's, tricks and payback all play out in Pixars prequel to Monsters Inc. This kids animation has the usual simplified adaptations of issues that affect those older than the target audience to good comedic effect. Over and above the themes. The action and story-line plays into the child and child at heart. All set in the college days...
Great to revisit the old characters, a fun story and beautifully drawn (as always). A cut above the standard animated fare, as you would expect from Pixar, but not quite up there with the original. If I had to put my finger on one thing that was lacking I would probably say laughs. Made me smile a lot but didn't make me laugh.
It's tough to say if Pixar will ever return to the astonishing heights of their hay-day (If you count pretty much everything pre-Toy Story 3, excluding Cars). Since then they have churned out an unbelievably mediocre sequel, a well-designed, but bland original piece and I honestly felt I could be disappointed with this prequel to a wonderful film. I'm glad...
It's a perfect prequel to Monsters Inc. It was amazing spotting the references and monsters from Monsters Inc. and the monsters were all so lovable. I enjoyed the unexpected turn of events and rooting for favourite monsters. Absolutely lovely film.
Ever tried to read every title, of every bookin the library, while running through it? Well thats much much they packed into this prequel to 'Monsters Inc', I found most of the time I was looking for characters from the previous film! Loved the themes in this with lots of little one liners and laughable moments (listen out for mum's music,you'll know it...
Variety
pressZippy, bright-minded prequel scarcely needed to exist, yet makes for perfectly agreeable entertainment now that it does... Deals honestly and inventively with the hard reality that some talents can't be taught and some dreams remain unfulfilled.
Total Film
pressPixar falls back on the tried and tested in an entertaining caper that will be a surefire kid pleaser this summer. Old favourites are always welcome, but it would have been nice to see some more new ideas too.
Time Out
pressIf the film lacks the heartbreaking quality of Pixar's revolutionary best, there's no demerit in playing it solid and safe for a change.
The New York Times
pressBoth the originality and stirring emotional complexity of "Monsters, Inc.," with its exquisitely painful and touching parallels with the human world, are missing ...
Hollywood Reporter
pressAn alarmingly lame effort from Pixar... The third consecutive less-than-first-class Pixar entry.
Empire Magazine
pressDazzlingly clever and hugely funny, it succeeds both as a broadening of the Monsters universe and as a film in its own right. Monsters University had a tough task, and it’s passed with honours.
A.V. Club
pressA gentle, poky riff on college-comedy clichés, complete with a villainous, snobbish fraternity, a heroic, outcast fraternity, and a stuffy, intimidating dean (Helen Mirren, wonderfully severe).
Not as good as the first Monsters Inc. movie, but still enjoyable. Good for a laugh with friends or if you have kids. Don't expect too much from it; it's not one of the "clever" Pixar movies.
Pixar! What's happened to you? Better than Cars & Brave, worse than Toy Story, Up, The Incredibles & Wall-E. Lower your expectations and you'll have fun. Kids will like it.
Fraternity shenanigan's, tricks and payback all play out in Pixars prequel to Monsters Inc. This kids animation has the usual simplified adaptations of issues that affect those older than the target audience to good comedic effect. Over and above the themes. The action and story-line plays into the child and child at heart. All set in the college...
Great to revisit the old characters, a fun story and beautifully drawn (as always). A cut above the standard animated fare, as you would expect from Pixar, but not quite up there with the original. If I had to put my finger on one thing that was lacking I would probably say laughs. Made me smile a lot but didn't make me laugh.
It's tough to say if Pixar will ever return to the astonishing heights of their hay-day (If you count pretty much everything pre-Toy Story 3, excluding Cars). Since then they have churned out an unbelievably mediocre sequel, a well-designed, but bland original piece and I honestly felt I could be disappointed with this prequel to a wonderful film. I'm...
It's a perfect prequel to Monsters Inc. It was amazing spotting the references and monsters from Monsters Inc. and the monsters were all so lovable. I enjoyed the unexpected turn of events and rooting for favourite monsters. Absolutely lovely film.
Ever tried to read every title, of every bookin the library, while running through it? Well thats much much they packed into this prequel to 'Monsters Inc', I found most of the time I was looking for characters from the previous film! Loved the themes in this with lots of little one liners and laughable moments (listen out for mum's music,you'll know it...
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