Walt Disney Pictures Presents: Monsters University

In Brief

Monsters University
Release Date: June 21

Disney/Pixar

Featuring the Voices Of: Billy Crystal, John Goodman, Steve Buscemi, Dave Foley, Julia Sweeney, Joel Murray, and Peter Sohn

Directed by: Dan Scanlon

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Mike Wazowski and James P. Sullivan are an inseparable pair, but that wasn't always the case. From the moment these two mismatched monsters met they couldn't stand each other. "Monsters University" unlocks the door to how Mike and Sulley overcame their differences and became the best of friends.

Click here to see the trailer: http://www.disney.com/MonstersUniversity

See a clip from the movie here:

Our Review

School's in Session for Mike and Sully! "Monsters University" Commences on the Big Screen!

by Heather-Grace MacHale

"Monsters Inc." is a film that is brimming over with a unique blend of spectacle and wit that makes it one of Pixar's most disarmingly charming pieces to date. Its prequel "Monsters University" contains enough of the spirit and charm of its predecessor that it is very difficult not to recommend, especially to fans of the original. However, despite the charm and humor, it does fall somewhat short of the bar set by Monsters Inc.

Monsters University is essentially Mike and Sully: The College Years. The film follows the heroes of the first film, goofy and easy going fur-ball, James "Sully" Sullivan (John Goodman) and nerdy, neurotic eyeball, Mike Wazowski (Billy Crystal) through the challenges they face in their attempts to graduate from Monsters University Scaring School. Their aim: to join the ranks of the heroic Scarers that harvest the screams of terrifying and toxic human children, that power the world of Monstropolis. The bulk of the story focuses on The Scare Games, a competition between the fraternities and sororities at Monsters University. Despite their initial antagonism, the nerdy know-it-all, Mike and Sully, the son of a famous scarer, skating on his looks and family name, are forced to team up. Along for the ride are the misfit brothers of Oozma Kappa, the university's lamest fraternity. Can Mike and Sully overcome their egos and bring together the team of lovable losers in time to prove their worth to the other fraternities and the tough but fair school administrator?

The adults in the audience might feel reminiscent of the "College/Frat" comedies of the 1980's. Though the story might seem familiar, it's a classic for a reason and the team at Pixar have imbued it with their patented blend of kid and adult humor that has kept audiences coming back for decades. There are some fun gags, evil frat brothers sporting popped collars, a mild-mannered librarian who turns violent when disturbed and a mature student falling for the Mother of one of his Oozma Kappa brothers. Fans of the first film will enjoy some of the inside jokes... the genesis of Randall and Sully's rivalry is revealed and Roz makes a fun cameo. However, even these moments feel like the easy gag rather than the best one.

Ultimately, Monsters University is a fun way to spend a couple hours and definitely worth the watch. Just don't go expecting the same frenetic originality of its precursor.