While Sulley was essentially the lead in Monsters Inc., it is Mike who takes center stage in Monsters University. In a terrific flashback scene to open the scene, we immediately see where Pixar is going with this prequel by showing a young Mike who dreams of one day becoming the greatest scarer in Monstropolis. He has a slight problem on his hands, though: he is not scary whatsoever. However, don't tell Mike this as he is convinced he has what it takes. As we fast forward to Mike's first day at Monsters University, we see the infectious, aspiring attitude that we loved about Mike from the film's predecessor come to the forefront, and we find ourselves wholeheartedly rooting for Mike throughout the film as he studies to achieve his dream, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable adversity such as the failing of his final exam in Scaring 101. Billy Crystal returns to the role he was born to play and gives yet another remarkable performance. Additionally, John Goodman's Sulley and his backstory is amazing as we discover that Sulley was not always the humble monster we saw in Monsters Inc. In fact, Sulley was an arrogant jock riding on his family's coattails in his youth. This sets up an incredible dynamic to play out between Mike and Sulley since Mike has the will but no skill while Sulley has all the skill but zero will. The growing pains of this legendary friendship are so genuinely developed in Monsters University. This film thrives because it is completely honest with the viewer every step of the way. Pixar has continually made history with their iconic friendships, but in Monsters University, they readily admit that friendships don't just develop overnight. It takes persistence and determination, but when that friendship begins to blossom, this film is also the first to challenge us to never let that bond go, and that is such a powerful message to proclaim through the lives of Mike and Sulley.
Yet again, Pixar introduces some awesome new characters in one of their follow-ups. Obviously, since the film takes place at a college, you need to have some monsters with enormous egos and great personalities, and that is precisely what Pixar has brought to this film. The Oozma Kappa fraternity (brilliantly abbreviated OK) is filled with excellent Pixar creations. Don, Squishy, Terri/Terry, and Art are scene-stealers from the moment they come on the screen. Their oftentimes subtle humor, sometimes even relying exclusively on physical comedy to make us laugh, works so well in this film. Additionally, the Roar Omega Roar crew is the perfect counterpart to OK, highlighted by their leader Johnny Worthington (exquisitely voiced by Nathan Fillion). Then, of course, Helen Mirren voices Dean Hardscrabble, and I am fairly certain that Mirren has no idea how to make a bad film or how to bring a bad character to life. Hardscrabble is a downright legend, so Mirren is the perfect choice to bring this rough and tough icon to life. I also thoroughly enjoyed how Pixar incorporated Randall Boggs, our villain from Monsters Inc., into the story of Monsters University without making it seem forced at all. Sequels and prequels sometimes do their film a disservice by relying too heavily on catering to the diehard fans with subtle references and cameos, and oftentimes, it makes the story feel unauthentic. Pixar, though, is able to expertly weave Randall into the action of the story and its characters while also phenomenally setting up the inevitable story for Monsters Inc. by instigating that rivalry between Randall and Sulley.
As we have come to expect with Pixar, the animation in Monsters University is absolutely beautiful, especially in the sequences featuring the various stages of the Scare Games. Randy Newman returns to compose another splendid score for Pixar as well. The best aspect of Monsters University, though, is its message. Mike wants to be a scarer more than anyone in the world. He works hard, studies harder, and takes advantage of every opportunity, but he lacks the ability to be scary. Instead of allowing Mike to break through and ultimately become a scarer, fulfilling the "you can do anything you put your mind to" trope from other films, Pixar takes this notion and turns it on its head. In Monsters University, they boldly proclaim that you can't always do what you put your mind to, and that is a mature message that needs to be heard by people of all ages. Sometimes, you can pursue your dreams with everything you've got and still fall short, but as evidenced by Mike's life, that doesn't mean your life is over. We get a chance to move on and find another dream. Additionally, Sulley's struggle to live up to his family name allows Mike the opportunity to state my favorite line from the film: "Stop being a Sullivan and start being you!" Not only does Monsters University teach one valuable lesson, but it teaches two lessons that are ever so timely and appropriate.
My only quibble with Monsters University is that while it is a great film, I would have much rather explored Mike and Sulley's relationship in the aftermath of Monsters Inc., not their lives before the factory. Don't get me wrong: I love what Pixar was able to do with this clever idea of pitting Mike and Sulley against each other before becoming the legendary duo we know and love today. However, I think the possibilities would have been truly endless had the studio decided to make a sequel instead of a prequel. Incorporating aspects of the newly founded Laugh Floor from the end of Monsters Inc. would have been incredible (and, not to mention, would have afforded the company an excellent opportunity for some nice synergy with the Disney Parks attractions). After seeing what Pixar was able to do with the two Toy Story sequels and most recently with Finding Dory, I would have loved to pick up where Monsters Inc. left off instead of going back in time. That being said, Pixar also gave us Cars 2, so maybe a prequel was the right choice here after all. Hopefully, this isn't the last time we see Mike and Sulley in action on the big screen.
Monsters University is a supremely entertaining film filled with gorgeous visuals, spectacular characters, and profound messages. While it ultimately falls just shy of achieving classic/masterpiece status due to my selfish desire for a sequel instead, I do find Monsters University to be a rather great film that is unfortunately unable to reach immortality.
Rating: 9/10
Historical Significance: In Monsters Inc., if you recall, there is a line in which Mike claims that Sulley had been jelaous of his good looks since the fourth grade. Obviously, according to Monsters University, Mike and Sulley did not meet until college, meaning that Mike's original line was a lie. Director Dan Scanlon noticed this and originally planned for the prequel to briefly begin in the fourth grade for that fateful meeting before skipping ahead to college. In fact, an early draft for the story set Mike and Sulley in elementary school for a good portion of the film due to this apparent contradiction, even including appearances from Celia, Fungus, and Mr. Waternoose from the original film (Side note: James Coburn, the original voice of Waternoose, died one year after the release of Monsters Inc., and the filmmakers were prepared to bring in Kelsey Grammar to voice the character for the prequel). After much deliberation, John Lasseter and Monsters Inc. director Pete Docter told Scanlon that although they loved the attempt to honor one line, he needed to do what was best for this story in this film. This resulted in the supposed contradiction holding up while Scanlon later remarked that being jealous of one's good looks since the fourth grade was "an old monster expression."
Behind the Scenes: Monsters University bears a striking resemblance to the University of California at Berkeley campus, which just so happens to be close to Pixar's headquarters in Emeryville. Monsters U's welcome gate is based on UC-Berkeley's famous Sather Gate (see the gate here) while the film's clock tower is based on Berkeley's Campanile clock tower (see the tower here). Even Monsters U's area code '501', as seen on Don's business code, is the area code for UC-Berkeley. Furthermore, Pixar borrowed a tradition from another prestigious university. As the monsters are entering the Scaring School building, you will see them all touch the front paw of an unknown monster in front of the building. This is a reference to a tradition from Harvard University which claims that students will be successful at the school if they touch the left foot of John Hancock before beginning classes. Reportedly, Hancock's left foot is shiny and polished while the rest of the statue is relatively worn down. You can see that the Pixar animators have incorporated that detail into the monster statue as well.
Favorite Character: I tipped my hand for my choice for this section in my review of Monsters Inc. (and by tipped my hand, I mean I flat out told you what my choice would be here). My favorite character from Monsters University is Mike Wazowski with Sulley coming in a very close second. I have touched on Mike's characterization in detail above, but I must reiterate how much I love what Pixar did with this animation icon in this prequel. We know from our experience in Monsters Inc. that Mike is most definitely not a scarer. As he quickly discovers upon attempting to scare a cabin full of female campers near the end of this film (a fantastic sequence, I might add), humans find Mike to be an adorable monster, not an abominable one (although humans do find him quite hilarious, which ends up being more beneficial to Monstropolis anyway, but I digress). The tricky thing about prequels is that everyone knows how the film has to end before the film begins. We know going into Monsters University that somehow Mike and Sulley have to end up at the famous factory, but Pixar keeps us guessing and questioning the nature of that ending through Mike's character. As the film is coming a conclusion, Mike finally comes to grips with the reality that he is not a scarer, and he is willing to let the monsters like Sulley do the glorious profession of scaring. However, in a twist of fate, it is at his new rock bottom that Mike begins dreaming all over again, initiating the idea of the dynamic duo working as mailmen at Monsters, Inc., eventually working their way up the ladder until they finally reach the coveted Scare Floor. This characterization in Monsters University is daring and audacious, but that is just what I have come to expect from Mike Wazowski.
Favorite Scene: I am by no means advocating for the right to trespass on private property, but if trespassing results in a film's most entertaining and emotional scene, then break all of the laws if you have to (please don't break the law, but you see my point hopefully)! Following the university-wide embarrassment of the Oozma Kappa brothers at the hands of Roar Omega Roar, Mike leads the crew on a field trip to Monsters, Inc. As they break onto the property, they find their way to a window where they can watch all of the legendary scarers in action. As Mike encourages them to look around at what they all have in common, the gang concludes that they have nothing in common, prodding Mike to take this opportunity to explain how every scarer is uniquely different, but being different doesn't disqualify you from being an effective scarer. This scene's message of uniqueness is enough to earn its spot as my favorite scene, but it is also displays the first real connection experienced by Mike And Sulley as they reminisce about all the legends they are watching before their very eyes and how they collected the same monster cards in their youth. It is a sign of things to come, and it is beautiful. Then, of course, the gang is caught by security as Art proceeds to utter the line that makes me laugh the most of all the dialogue. After a brief pause, he vehemently exclaims, "I can't go back to jail!" I would love to know more about Art's past after this one phrase, and it is a phrase that is downright hysterical. This scene features every signature in Pixar's arsenal: hilarity, character development, and heart.Updated Ranking: I can't help but wonder after watching Monsters University what could have been if Pixar would have produced a true sequel instead of a prequel, and that is the reason this film is ranked where it is.
- Toy Story 3
- The Incredibles
- Toy Story
- Finding Nemo
- Up
- Ratatouille
- Wall-E
- Monsters Inc.
- Toy Story 2
- Brave
- Monsters University
- A Bug's Life
- Cars
- Cars 2
Tomorrow is the day we will be talking about for years and years to come (not really, but you never know). The worldwide phenomenon known as Frozen invades the Summer of Magic next!
-Cody Fleenor
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