Who Would Have Dreamed Monsters Could Be So Much Fun!

Rating: 6/10 (31 January 2011)

Who would have thought that a film about monsters could be so much fun? While this certainly isn't Pixar's most intellectually stimulating film, it is an enjoyable way to spend an evening as a family... unless, of course, your children are afraid of monsters.
The Story: Mike and Sulley are workers at Monsters, Inc., the huge power plant that keeps the city of Monstropolis running smoothly. Their job: to collect the screams of little children. Screams are what power Monstropolis, so every night the monsters must enter the world of humans in order to scare the children as they fall asleep.
But the children are not the only ones being scared. The monsters believe that children are poisonous and that just one touch from a human child will kill them. So when a two year-old girl follows Sulley back through her closet door into Monstropolis, the monsters' world is turned upside down.
The Good: As with many Pixar films, friendship and looking out for others is a major part of this story. The relationship that grows between Sulley and Boo is very sweet and he goes to great lengths to keep her safe. This is a wonderful example of what we should be willing to do to protect widows, orphans, and all those weaker than ourselves. Also noticeable was the contrast between good and evil and the lesson that laughter and joy are more powerful than fear.
The Bad: This film is very clean. Besides a few monster kisses and one use of the word darn, there's really nothing offensive here. One thing parents of young children may want to keep in mind, however, is the fact that the film is about monsters who come out at night and scare little children. While this is resolved nicely in the end, some young children may find a film about monsters to be more scary than funny.
Conclusion: While Monsters, Inc. may not be a very deep film, it is an extremely entertaining one! If you're looking for a delightful way to spend an evening, and you are not afraid of monsters, Monsters, Inc. may just fit the bill.