A Scientist at the Movies Reviews by Greg Paris

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Title: Monsters Inc.

Date Viewed: 11/23/01

Details:

Voice talent:

John Goodman (James P. 'Sulley' Sullivan)

Billy Crystal (Michael 'Mike' Wazowski)

Mary Gibbs (Boo)

Steve Buscemi (Randall Boggs)

James Coburn (Henry J. Waternoose)

Jennifer Tilly (Celia)

Bob Peterson (Roz)

John Ratzenberger (Yeti)

Frank Oz (Fungus)

Directed by: Peter Docter & David Silverman

Score: +

The Review: You were right. After all these years, it's comforting to discover that your worst childhood fears were real, and all your parent's denials were for naught. There really are monsters in your closet, or under your bed, and they really are out to scare you. They exist in an alternate universe, and can easily scurry back there to prevent you from tripping them up, or from finding any evidence.

Such is the premise of this delightful Pixar-animated feature, filled with an internally consistent mythology, cute throw-away sight gags (look for scenes from "The Right Stuff"), and more imagination than I've seen in quite some time. There is a "monster-ville", an entire culture with substantial diversity, and a workforce of many disciplines. The stars (a manic Billy Crystal as Mike, and an engaging John Goodman as Sulley) appear to be union workers and teammates in a routine power-generating job, working on a vast job floor (the "scare floor") that resembles a cross between a bowling alley and a steel mill. Instead of a bucket o' pins, there's a contraption to support one of many carefully selected and indexed doors -- and this door provides the interface between universes, and to the small child about to be scared. The most stunning visual effect is the vault where all the doors are stored and retrieved; in some ways it resembles the near-infinite warehouse glimpsed at the end of "Raiders of the Lost Ark", but a lot more dynamic, a lot more vertical, as well as a lot more fun.

It turns out that the monsters have their own fears and anathema, and when the worst happens, the romp begins to restore the universe to its original order. There's a well-constructed back-story, and sufficient puzzle, intrigue and malevolence to keep the plot line moving. Pixar had a lot of fun making this, and you will enjoy the results. In addition, as its time on the market is prolonged, "Bug's Life" -like "out-takes" are being provided over the credits for additional draw and entertainment.

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