I like Pixar. Even when the films produced aren’t as good as they should be they wind up being far better than most offerings for “family” films. Technically they are always superior, but it is the storytelling that makes the films so enjoyable.
With an open mind I placed Monsters University in my Blu-ray player. Pixar makes great movies, but the sequels have always left be wishing for something else. I found Toy Story 2 to be enjoyable, but am in the minority when it comes to Toy Story 3 (it was alright, but not great) and I really didn’t like Cars 2. Monsters University is actually a “prequel” set before the events in Monsters Inc. and while their follow-up films haven’t always been great, Pixar still offers up good stuff, so I was eager to at least see what was being offered.
Monsters University is a very good film, and better than I was expecting. Of all the sequels Pixar has done, I think Monsters University is the best.
The story starts off with young Mike Wazowski on a school field trip to the Monsters Inc. power plant. It is there his dream of becoming a scarer is solidified, but he also decides to attend Monsters University. Flash forward to his first day and we start off with your typical college scenario – all done with plenty of humor.
Of course that prologue wasn’t just to establish the character of Mike. As with every Pixar film everything has a purpose and in the 3rd act we get some payoff. A number of ties between Monsters University and Monsters Inc. are present, but you certainly don’t need to have watched the original film recently to understand the world these characters inhabit or simply enjoy this one.
At the heart of the story is the relationship between Mike and Sully, and that’s what makes Monsters University work. By focusing on the characters and their relationship, well, it’s what Pixar does best. Sure there’s technological achievements, but really, it’s the characters that you love.
We know where they end up in Monsters Inc., but by exploring this chapter in their lives we gain greater appreciation for them. At the beginning of Monsters Inc. we know the two main characters have a history. Where Monsters Inc. was in the “buddy comedy” genre Monsters University uses the “college life” genre (usually an ‘R’ rated film) to explore the characters. It works, and works well.
Note how much I’m referring to the characters? By making them the focus Pixar hits on its winning formula. It is what was missing in Cars 2.
Billy Crystal and John Goodman return to reprise their roles, as does Steve Buscemi. Almost everybody else is new, from fraternity brothers (Nathan Fillion and Dave Foley) to the Dean (Helen Mirren). Other notable names that appear in the film include Alfred Molina, Aubrey Plaza, Sean Hayes, Bonnie Hunt, Bill Hader and more.
Disney is offering the film on DVD, Blu-ray and in a package that offers up an additional disc of the film on Blu-ray in 3D. I sadly did not get that version, but did get the Blu-ray. The film, audio commentary and “Blue Umbrella” short are on the disc featuring the main feature. Director Dan Scanlon along with and Story Supervisor Kesley Mann and Producer Kori Rae turn in the audio commentary that is interesting and informative. I would have preferred a picture in picture option, perhaps with storyboards along the whole feature, or reference footage, or… something.
The second Blu-ray disc houses the special features, starting off with about 20 minutes worth of deleted scenes. I always love watching these as they are sometimes trimmed for time, sometimes because they are story elements that didn’t work, or even complete overhauls in the script. It’s fun to see how the film changed over the course of development. Everything else is chopped up into small featurettes, only one of which lasts longer than 10 minutes. When these featurettes last almost an hour and a half, this is sort of irritating. These all take various looks at life at Pixar, designing the monsters in the film, the music, the animation, etc. Plenty of good stuff, but I would have liked it better organized (say, into one or two larger comprehensive pieces).
Monsters University is a funny film and worthy prequel to Monsters Inc. The Blu-ray isn’t a perfect package (you know there are more deleted scenes, no storyboards, and other “missing” special features) but I still recommend picking it up.