A Charming College Comedy for the Kiddie Set

Rating: 7/10 (7 January 2015)

Ten years ago Pixar's Monster's Inc introduced us to James P. Sullivan and Mike Wazowski, the top scaring team at the titular corporation. Now Monster's University takes us back to their college days to see how it all started. And surprise of surprises, they weren't always best buddies. Mike is the determined, hardworking underdog; Sully the gifted slacker who counts on family name and natural talent to carry him through as he parties the semester away. They're natural rivals from the moment they meet, but when their respective shortcomings threaten to derail their academic careers, their one chance to get back in the prestigious scaring program is to work together and shape up an unlikely band of misfits into the best scarers on campus.
If any of that sounds familiar it should. It's the basic plot of every college slapstick and buddy comedy ever made, from the Marx Brothers to Animal House to the Simpsons. There's even the requisite rich boy frat house and the strict dean of students, though oddly enough no romantic interest for either star. Owing to its highly formulaic nature Monster's U is fairly predictable, with very little that will surprise experienced viewers. But the funny thing is that for the most part that really doesn't matter. Because while it may use a generations old formula, it uses it very well.
And it's not like the target audience will have seen many college movies before, because this is a children's movie after all, and on that level it works quite well. There are plenty of likable oddball characters and a good number of hilarious hi-jinks. I particularly the delightfully hokey secret initiation and the other awkward situations that arise from the fraternity's unique housing conditions. And I challenge any viewer not to crack up at the sight of Mr. Waternoose in an afro.
I also appreciated the ending, which forgoes the obvious and easy conclusion to create a more powerful crisis and show us what real scaring looks like. Monster's University may not be as grand, as deep, or as original as Pixar's best films, but it's still fun and funny, and a delight for the kids.