Better Than "Shrek"

Rating: 10/10 (3 November 2001)

A lot of reviewers have been comparing this movie to this year's earlier digitally animated "Shrek". If they're not using that movie as the yard stick, then they're comparing it to previous Pixar efforts "Toy Story 1 & 2" and "A Bug's Life".
Personally, I think "Monsters, Inc." is beyond compare and is a strong enough movie to stand on it's own 5 legs.
I enjoyed this movie WAY more than "Shrek". "Monsters, Inc." has characters you care about and it's loaded to the hilt with great jokes for both kids and adults. Although "Shrek" was a good film, I walked away from it feeling like it was trying to be all things to all people and it didn't satisfy as thouroughly as this film.
"Monsters, Inc." knows it's audience and respects them with it's clever premise - monsters live in another universe powered by the "Scream Energy" they collect from hopping out of kids closets and scaring the bejesus out of them. But in the end, we learn a laugh is more powerful than a scream. Great lesson and very inventive!
All of the characters that inhabit Monstropolis come in a great variety of shapes, colors and personalities. You can tell the animators had a lot of fun creating them. The voice over work of Billy Crystal and John Goodman was spot-on. They have excellent chemistry and are a treat to listen to.
The action elements of the film are not to be missed. The last 30 minutes are filled with an exciting chase set within jaw-dropping surroundings. The final moment is a wonderful, touching moment that plays magnificently with the special relationship Goodman's big, blue Sully has with the 3 year old girl "Boo" who he has taken under her wing.
"Monsters, Inc." is a very effective movie for fans on all levels.