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Monsters, Inc. casts a funny light on those creatures in the closet with amazing animation and winning performances, notably John Goodman's.
By STEVE PERSALL
© St. Petersburg Times, published November 1, 2001
Those geniuses at Pixar Animation Studios already showed us what happens to toys when we're not looking and bugs when we don't squash them. Now Monsters, Inc. arrives with a captivating peek at things that go bump in the closet at night.
Monsters, Inc. is funnier than Shrek, more endearing than Atlantis: The Lost Empire and should be a front runner for the first-ever Academy Award for best animated feature when that competition is introduced next spring. Perhaps the surprise of computerized realism has worn off a bit since Toy Story, but ingenious writing and direction never do.
The key to both toy stories and A Bug's Life was taking ordinary-kid curiosities and investing them with human traits -- the same fantasies children have before grown-up distractions take over. But dolls and insects are our friends. Monsters, Inc. gives an equally lovable face to a child's fears, making them reasonable and manageable. So many movies give youngsters nightmares, it's nice to see one that can help them sleep peacefully.
The creatures are there, all right, lurking behind the closet door waiting for bedtime to spread the willies. Monsters, Inc. explains with cheeky good humor how and why they do it and, more important, what children can do about it. Laugh at them, don't act terrorized, and their power evaporates. The coincidental timing of that message in a not-so-brave new world can't be underestimated.
Scaring kids is just business as usual for working stiffs like James P. "Sulley" Sullivan (voice of John Goodman) and Mike Wazowski (Billy Crystal). Giving two weird monsters -- a pastel Yeti and a one-eyed egg -- such ordinary time-clock names is the first hint of the story's anthropomorphic angle. Sulley and Mike act like any human factory workers in a decidedly nonhuman factory.
Monsters, Inc. serves the energy needs for Monsteropolis, an alternate universe not very different from ours. Each night, the closet doors of children worldwide are shuttled through an assembly line for diverse creatures to pounce through. The screams they earn are converted to power, which keeps the city moving. Modern children are tougher to scare, however, and those monsters with the fright stuff are considered heroes.
Sulley is the best, on his way to the all-time scream record with a sarcastic slimer named Randall Boggs (Steve Buscemi) close behind. Mike is Sulley's corner man, like Burgess Meredith in Rocky, giving pep talks while keeping those doors coming. The cardinal rule: Don't let the children or any of their possessions touch you, or else you'll never raise goose bumps again.
Terror strikes Monsteropolis when an incredibly cute toddler named Boo (Mary Gibbs) sneaks through her closet to the other side. Sulley must return her before his reputation and skills are ruined.
Goodman's vocal characterization is wonderful, a hard hat going soft as Boo gets under his fur. The final image in the movie owes its deeply emotional effect to the actor's cumulative credibility even more than to the expert animation. Crystal is more of a hit-and-run delight, making wisecracks and doing vocal double takes for a creature with no neck. Buscemi's sneering tone works well, and Gibbs' adorable gibberish coupled with those big brown eyes make Boo the most irresistible screen child since Shirley Temple.
Monsters, Inc. is crammed with sight gags and subtle social commentary, punctuated by action sequences like a closet-door roller-coaster chase begging to be converted to theme parks. Usually, that would be a complaint, but not this time. Pixar is consistently turning out the best 'toons today, including a short subject, On the Line, that's part of this package. Smart move by Disney, which snapped up these guys early. If you can't beat 'em, buy 'em.
Grade: A
Directors: Pete Docter, David Silverman, Lee Unkrich
Cast: Voices of John Goodman, Billy Crystal, Steve Buscemi, James Coburn, Jennifer Tilly, Mary Gibbs
Screenplay: Dan Gerson, Andrew Stanton
Rating: G
Running time: 95 min.