Few things are as difficult as pulling off a good prequel, especially when it’s for a truly beloved movie. So, when Pixar announced a prequel for Monsters Inc., I was skeptical at best. Plus, lets be honest, outside of the Toy Story movies, Pixar hasn’t really done well with franchises, and their track record hasn’t exactly been superb the past couple of years with a couple of movies that were good but not really great. Put that all together and there was really no reason to expect that Monsters University would be any good. Well I’m relieved to say it is. In fact, it’s really good. In fact, it’s Pixar’s best movie in years. A worthy companion to Monsters Inc., and probably my favorite comedy in the past few years. Pixar did it. They produced the perfect prequel.
There are many difficulties in putting together a good prequel, among them being that the audience pretty much knows how everything turns out. We know where these characters ultimately end up, and while it seems like it should be interesting to find out how they got there and where they came from, that isn’t always the case (I’m looking at you Star Wars prequels). In this instance, however, Pixar proves that it can be done. Yes, we know that Mike and Sully are good friends who work in Monsters Inc. later on, but in this film, it’s actually interesting and a lot of fun to see how they get there. This is mainly because Pixar keeps subverting our expectations. You may think you know how things are going to go, but they keep subtly taking things in a different and unexpected direction. You really do root for these guys to get over themselves, stop being jerks, and start being friends, and when that moment finally comes, not only is it really satisfying, but also it just makes you feel good.
Speaking of feeling good, that’s what this movie does; it just makes you feel good.
We’re used to Pixar crafting emotionally engaging stories with humor in them, but Monsters U is probably the purest comedy they’ve ever done. There’s still some good heart in it, but this isn’t a movie to tug on your heartstrings as much as it is to tickle your funny bone. This film is just funny. From beginning to end, it’s filled with laughs for every one of all ages. Some may think the film is lacking without any really tear-jerking moments, but it’s just as much to make a consistently funny and high quality comedy as it is to craft something really emotional, and Pixar has already proven they know how to do the emotional stuff while here they show they can also tell a really good story that’s just straight-up funny.
Most of the story focuses on how Mike is determined to be the best scarer ever despite one slight drawback; he isn’t scary. He can study all he wants and learn all there is about scaring, but the fact remains he just isn’t scary. For Mike, that means he can’t really fulfill his purpose, or so he thinks. I’ll let you watch the film to find out how that’s all resolved. All I’ll say here is that eventually he learns that he doesn’t just have to accept being merely “okay.” And so it is with us. We weren’t made to be mediocre. Our destiny isn’t to be just so-so. We were made for great things. The problem is sometimes we don’t understand how to achieve the great things we were meant for. We think we need to do it all on our own, and when we realize we can’t, it can be discouraging and make us feel like perhaps just “okay” is the best we’ll ever be. That’s not what Jesus said. “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.” (John 14:12) It’s hard to wrap one’s mind around doing even greater things than what Jesus did, but he’s the one who said it. The point is we can’t do that without him. We can’t achieve the greatness were made for on own, with our own knowledge, with our own strength. However, with Jesus, with all that he’s already done for us, we can…well, to borrow a phrase, we can be all we can be. You were created to be more than just okay; never forget that.
Monsters U is Pixar’s best movie in several years, and one of the funniest most enjoyable comedies in recent years (I don’t count all those rated R comedies). It reminds us why Pixar is so highly regarded and is one of those true rare movie feats; a really good prequel that actually adds something to characters we already know rather than feeling unnecessary.
There’s a moment toward the end where I was a little worried because it seemed like they were taking a rather clichéd and familiar route, but then they flip it all around and go in an entirely different direction instead of taking the easy way out. That is the brilliance of Pixar. Not to mention the setting of the final big sequence, which is one of the most brilliant and enjoyable ideas I’ve seen in some time. Anyone familiar with horror films will know exactly what I’m talking about. Monsters University is funny, enjoyable, endearing and it has Nathan Fillion as the BMoC; so yeah, it pretty much has everything. If you’re looking for right summer movie to take the whole family to, once again Pixar has delivered just what you’re looking for. When Mikey met Sully is a delightful film for the whole family to enjoy together.
Monsters University is just fun for the whole family. Just because a film is rated G doesn’t mean it’s just for kids. Pixar proves that once again with smart, enjoyable comedy that parents will enjoy as much as their kids will. Plus it looks great, but the 3-D is probably unnecessary, so save a few bucks.
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