REVIEW - MONSTERS UNIVERSITY

As always when viewing a Pixar film, I held high expectations of what I was about to experience. I think this sense of expectancy is also (always!) effected by the famous Pixar shorts that prelude the film. Monsters University was accompanied by a gorgeous and moving short about an umbrella’s plight to find companionship – assisted by the personified elements of the city – drainpipes, postboxes, traffic lights, buildings et cetera are all given subtle faces and personalities, totally ignored by people. It is amazing how much depth and emotion this short is able to communicate without once showing a human face. The Blue Umbrella was a lovely surprise.

Making a prequel rather than a sequel to such a successful film was a good idea plot-wise, as the changes to the world that occur at the end of the original film make it very difficult to continue the story in a satisfying way. The last scene of Monsters Inc. (Sully opening the door to Boo’s room several years in the future and smiling) seems deliberately written to allow your imagination to see what it wants – a clever and satisfying way to end a film, but one that makes it difficult to place a sequel after, as providing concrete evidence of what Sully saw may destroy the imaginings of many viewers, which would make the sequel less enjoyable.

The animation was beautiful but I felt the story left something to be desired. A major problem with the characterization was that there was no suspense in the decisions Mike, Sully or Randall would make as your already knew what kind of people they would grow up to be. So although the story follows Mike as the central protagonist you do not feel very invested in his story. Most of the other characters too, felt a little two dimensional. They were cute and likeable but did not tug at your heartstrings the way characters in Toy Story, or other Pixar works do.

Randy Newman's score was really catchy! The soundtracks in many movies fail to catch your attention, and are merely atmospheric - that is, even if it consists of more than spooky noises it doesn't really stand out as separate from the film. The Monsters University soundtrack however shone, also setting the tone for the film well. The moral of the story too, was unconventional yet great - ultimately concluding that two things. First, that being yourself is the only true way to succeed, and secondly that your life does not have to go according to plan in order for you to succeed - the example given of course being that you do not need to graduate university to achieve your goals. This second point in particular is really important to communicate to children as there is a superfluous trend in our society to see a university education as a prerequisite to success which is simply not true.

I enjoyed Monsters University but it did not win a place in my heart the way that Up! or Toy Story did, as the story left something to be desired.