Monsters University shows us how the dynamic duo came to be.
The movie opens with a young Mike Wazowski wide-eyed dreaming about attending Monsters University and joining their distinguished Scaring school. In class, Mike meets Sulley, a monster who comes from a long line of “scarers”. The two immediately bump heads because Mike has to work hard to learn his scares, while Sulley, who’s not only naturally scary, receives favorable treatment for having the Sulley family name. The two engage in a personal competition trying to one up each other all semester long.
After the competition spills into class during the final, Mike and Sulley are kicked out of the Scare School by Dean Hardscrabble (Helen Mirren). The only way for the two of them to get back in the school is to win the Scare Games on MU’s campus. Putting their differences aside, they join a group of misfit monsters in the Oozma Kappa fraternity together. Mike, Sulley, and the Oozma Kappas band together to learn to be top scarers and win the competition.
Monsters University is a throwback to the many nerds vs. the world movies of the 1980’s. It’s got it all – humor, infighting, betrayal, overzealous teachers, and jocks. Part of what makes Monsters University cool is the repackaging of a 80’s movie into animated kids movie in 2013. For some reason the 80’s movie formula transitions well into kid’s movies.
The only real issue with Monsters University is it being prequel. Not only is prequel a nearly impossible task, it’s difficult to live in the shadows of Monsters, Inc or hold any real surprises. No matter what conflict takes place onscreen, you know exactly where the film is going.
Knowing where the film is going isn’t completely bad. It allows for the film to have a few great call backs to the original Monsters, Inc. It’s like seeing old friends again.
Even with the events in Monsters, Inc telegraphing most of Monster University’s plot, the film is entertaining and hilariously funny at times. Pixar still has its fastball and is capable of making timeless animated films that are entertaining for children and adults.
