The CU Film Critic takes on "Monsters, Inc."

Rating: 8/10 (26 October 2001)

Whether you love or hate what's been making its way out of Walt Disney Studios for the past four years or so, one thing's for sure. Walt's gotta be rolling around in his cryogenic chamber.
Since `The Lion King,' with the exception of the `Toy Story' films, Disney's animated films have been going downhill in a hurry, on a slippery slope to the pit where we find such cartoon masterpieces as `Rock-a-Doodle' and `The Secret of Nimh 2: Timmy to the Rescue.'
That said, it would be nice for the folks at Disney to bring back the animated musical as we know it before Dreamworks' Jeffrey Katzenberg drops them with the film industry equivalent of a Stone Cold Stunner.
THAT said, the newest computer-animated film by the geniuses at Disney/Pixar is the most fun I've had at the theatre since last spring. `Monsters, Inc.' is a tale of blue-collar workers who just happen to be blessed with such distinguishing characteristics as purple fur, antennae, horns, etc.
Apparently, in the world of monsters (which may very well be Greeley, judging from various hints we're given), electrical power is all driven by one source- the screams of small children. If you've spent any time in a church-sponsored preschool, this concept won't come as a big surprise. Of course, in order to harness this power, myriad creatures are employed at Monsters, Incorporated, to enter our world through childrens' closet doors and collect these shrieks of terror to be put to use at the power plant.
As my fourteen year-old sister would say, `How cool is that?'
We get the voice of John `Walter' Goodman as James P. Sullivan (Sully, for short), an enthusiastic ogre of sorts with blue fur, a big smile, and horns. Imagine Bigfoot after two weeks at Wonka's chocolate factory, and you've got a pretty good idea.
Sully is the perpetual Employee of the Month at Monsters, Inc., spending all his free time boning up on job skills, and constantly breaking `scare records' with his patented system. His best friend and manager is Mike Wazowski (Billy Crystal), a one-eyed, green gumdrop with harms and legs. Wazowski is the monster equivalent of George from `Seinfeld,' slightly neurotic but goofy enough to be fun.
When the two buddies inadvertently let a child into the monster world, catastrophe ensues. Children, of course, are considered toxic to monsters, making the job of scream collectors even more hazardous. This attracts the attention of the scheming villain Randall, voiced by none other than the devil himself, Steve Buscemi.
Cartoons, computer-generated or not, don't get much better than this. Cartoons are all about fun, and you won't have more fun at any other movie this fall. It's great. The monsters' names are Mike, George, and the like. The animation is top-notch. Shrek has nothing on this film. I sat hypnotized for a good eight minutes of the movie, captivated by the incredible detail what was given to various clumps of blue fur. A guest appearance by the Abominable Snowman made me roll out of my chair (upon presenting his guests with yellow sno-cones, he reassures them, `they're lemon.').
Also, this is Disney, so keep an eye out for cameos by characters from other films. I counted three. See if you can do me one better. `Monsters, Inc.' may not have been part of Walt Disney's vision, but I get the feeling he at least would have approved. Want one more reason to go see this movie? Five words. `Star Wars Episode II Trailer.'
It's high time a family movie makes its way to the top. I'm gonna endorse this one with an `A.'