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A monstrous hit
By BILLY NORRIS
© St. Petersburg Times,
published November 5, 2001
Movie: Monsters, Inc.
Rating: PG
 Summary: Monsters, Inc. is the main power corporation for the city of Monstropolis, whose inhabitants are not people but monsters. The electrical power comes from the screams collected from human children who are scared by the monsters employed by the company, and it's running seriously low. It's up to the No. 1 "Scarer," Sulley (voice of John Goodman), and his assistant, Mikey (Billy Crystal), to help fill that electricity shortage. Right behind Sulley, in the No. 2 spot, is a lizardlike, evil-minded Scarer, Randall Boggs (voice of Steve Buscemi), whose motives are questionable!
Well, all heck breaks loose when a child named Boo (voice of Mary Gibbs) finds her way into the Monsters Inc. facility. You see, children are thought to be extremely toxic to monsters. Sulley, however, befriends the toddler and along with Mikey must help get her back to her home in the human world before Randall uses the child to boost himself into the No. 1 spot in the company.
Before Monsters, Inc. begins, the short film For the Birds is shown. It explains, in a unique and comical way, what all those birds are doing when they're up there on those telephone wires. It is hilarious!
My view: Monsters, Inc. was excellent. Mikey's amusing antics along with Sulley's lovable demeanor helped make this film first-rate. All of the other characters -- and there were quite a few -- were uniquely well-developed. The movie had an interesting, well-rounded plot with plenty of humor that provided plenty of laughs! At the screening I attended, the audience was made up of families with kids -- toddlers to teenagers. Much to my surprise, this movie kept even the very youngest ones intrigued through its full length. I can also envision the "peril" scene near the end of this movie being turned into a simulation ride at the Disney-MGM theme park in Orlando in a year or so!
Favorite part: I really enjoyed the whole thing! The animation, done by Pixar, was incredible! The detailed expressions on the faces of the characters pull you into their world. Also, the attention they gave to minute details, such as the texture of Sulley's fur, was amazing! I also enjoyed the charismatic musical score, which was based on '40s style jazz.
Least favorite part: All aspects of this film are positive. There wasn't even a hint of a least favorite part.
Recommendations: This is a great movie for the whole family. It has the right stuff to be a big, monstrous hit through the holiday season. Don't miss it!
Grade: A+
- Billy Norris, 13, is in the eighth grade at Seminole Middle School, and is a former member of the Times X-Team.
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