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Film review

'Monster House' will bore adults, scare kids

The computer-animated film relies on easy frights, with no originality. And parents should think twice about taking young children.

By STEVE PERSALL
Published July 20, 2006

Whereas some movies resemble theme park rides, Monster House is the rickety cart hauling gullible travelers through a carnival sham. You get a jolt or two from sudden noises and whiplash apparitions, but nothing taking your breath away. Exit doors offer relief from disappointment, not fear.

But that's the grownup point of view.

A few children escorted from a recent Monster House screening, and others who stayed and cringed, would disagree. Gil Kenan's computer-animated movie taps into suburban legends created by childish imagination: the cranky neighbor who may be a killer, the creepy house that may be haunted, adults who won't listen to kids and regret it. Dark stuff, and something for parents to consider before taking small children to the megaplex.

The scary real estate belongs to old man Nebbercracker (voice of Steve Buscemi), a cadaverous sort frighteningly protective of his lawn. His home looks intimidating even before things get supernatural. Across the street lives DJ (Mitchel Musso), who keeps an eye on Nebbercracker's rants against children and toys crossing his property line.

DJ's best friend, Chowder (Sam Lerner), instigates a confrontation with Nebbercracker, who appears to suffer a fatal heart attack. That's a disturbing scene for any age watching a PG-rated movie.

The house wants revenge. DJ, Chowder and new friend Jenny (Spencer Locke) become the neighborhood Hardy boys and girl, barely surviving the house's Persian rug tongue, malevolent shingling and a gaping pit to something like hell. The script provides too much time to catch your breath with asides to DJ's punk babysitter (Maggie Gyllenhaal), her rocker boyfriend (Jason Lee) and two bumbling police officers (Kevin James, Nick Cannon).

Kenan shoves grotesque, not graphic, images into viewers' faces, accenting his sinister yarn with sonic stings and abrupt action. Nothing original, but effective to young eyes and ears that aren't yet bored with such easy scares. Monster House is the visual equivalent of a Goosebumps book, elemental and disposable entertainment.

The movie might be improved if only the house were animated. The surrounding neighborhood and residents are blandly middle class. What's the use of computer-generating an ordinary reality where most of the story occurs? In doing so, Monster House slightly separates us from what the motion-capture cartoons onscreen are going through, not a good thing in matters of terror. Fewer tricks might have inspired a more satisfying treat.

Steve Persall can be reached at (727) 893-8365 or persall@sptimes.com.

[Last modified July 19, 2006, 10:40:55]