a full-filled family movie

Rating: Null/10 (11 March 2002)

The majority of so-called "family" or "kids movies" recently have been full of lame-brained "jokes" such as bathroom humor and gross-out stuff. In MONSTERS, INC., we have a terrific family comedy that kids and parents alike can enjoy, with not a single gross-out joke or spot of bathroom humor to be seen. Kids will like the comic situations, and parents will get some of the more grown-up jokes, but both will delight in a fun-filled adventure about monsters and the world they in. Billy Crystal and John Goodman are spot-on with their vocal talents, with Jennifer Tilly, Steve Buscemi, and veteran James Coburn rounding out the supporting cast. It all moves at a pretty good pace and has good honest laughs scattered throughout the story. One moment may be a tad scary for real little kids (the scene where Buscemi's Randall is threatening to physically extract Boo's screams from her), but the film is pretty light the rest of the time, with everything building up to a fun, thrilling climax involving the millions of closet doors the monsters use to enter the real world. A good-spirited kids movie that the whole family can enjoy.