2013 | Dir. Dan Scanlon | 104 Minutes
"Mike, you're not scary. Not even a little. But you are fearless!"
Ever since a childhood field trip to Monsters, Inc., university student Mike Wazowski dreamed of becoming a professional scarer, to secretly enter the human world and obtain screams from children as a source of electrical energy. After they are expelled from the scare program, Mike and his naturally-talented rival James P. Sullivan join misfit fraternity Oozma Kappa to compete in a campus-wide scaring contest, their only chance to rejoin the scare program should they win and prove themselves worthy to the dean.
A college comedy with the signature Pixar Animation Studios touch, Monsters University is fresh and full of charm. The touching story centered around Mike and his struggle to fulfill a seemingly impossible dream despite his tireless efforts is strong enough to stand on its own without relying on familiarity with Monsters, Inc., although fans of the first film would find this experience more rewarding than the uninitiated. The MU campus is rendered in loving and highly believable detail and the film is an absolute delight, from the various amusing Scare Games events through a suspenseful finale in a highly unexpected place.
Returning from Monsters, Inc. the chemistry between Billy Crystal and John Goodman as Mike and Sulley is as organic and hilarious as ever. Also returning is Steve Buscemi's Randall Boggs who is given a more sympathetic subplot that elegantly sows the seed for his heated rivalry with Sulley. Dame Helen Mirren brings an astounding level of class to the role of the intimidating Dean Abigail Hardscrabble. Alfred Molina is a natural fit in the role of Scare Professor Derek Knight. Pixar animator Peter Sohn, comedic actors Joel Murray, Sean Hayes, Dave Foley, and Charlie Day play the quirky members of Oozma Kappa. The voice cast also features Nathan Fillion, Bobby Moynihan, Aubrey Plaza, John Krasinski, and Pixar regular Bonnie Hunt.
A wonderful addition to the Pixar canon, Monsters University takes an optimistic look at the discrepancy between life plans and reality. Despite his failings as a scarer, Mike does not give up, and although he does not end up where he thought he wanted to be, he ends up exactly where he is supposed to be. It's a great lesson for audiences of any age.
POST-CREDITS STINGER
A snail monster seen hurrying to his first class at the start of the film finally enters his classroom only to learn that the school year is over
JOHN RATZENBERGER AS...
- A soon-to-be-banished Yeti working in the Monsters, Inc. mailroom
A113
- Scare 101 is in Classroom A113
PIXAR INTERCONNECTIVITY
- A crude spray-painted version of the ball from 1986 Pixar animated short Luxo, Jr. is seen as an example of a deadly object among other human items during Toxicity Scare Games challenge
- The Pizza Planet delivery truck from Toy Story is seen parked outside a house party
MCU CONNECTIONS
- Nathan Fillion (Kyln Inmate in Guardians of the Galaxy, Master Karja in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, and Headpool in Deadpool & Wolverine)
- John Krasinski (Reed Richards in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness)
