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| Tookey's Review |
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| Cast |
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| Released: |
2013 |
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| Genre: |
MONSTER
ANIMATION
PREQUEL
COMEDY
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| Origin: |
US |
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| Colour: |
C |
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| Length: |
95 |
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Could do better.
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Reviewed by Chris Tookey
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Monsters University, a prequel to Monsters Inc. is a serviceable, entertaining movie for children. Though both are in their sixties, Billy Crystal and John Goodman do an excellent job here of impersonating cocky young monsters of college age.
Helen Mirren does an even more impressive turn as the giant, imperious and scary cockroach who runs the title institution.
It’s lively and colourful entertainment that captures the allure and challenge of going up to university. And though there’s some sluggish pacing in the middle, the action climax is an enjoyable pastiche of horror-film cliches.
Where it disappoints is in its storyline – yet another formulaic tale of a team of underdogs triumphing over boorish rivals. The narrative is almost identical to last week’s turkey, The Internship – and that’s not a good thing.
In defence of Monsters University, this is far funnier and more imaginative in its visuals. Children will be entertained, and adults won’t feel they’re wasting their time.
All the same, the feeling lingers that the Pixar team that created classics such as Toy Story, Up and The Incredibles have lowered their standards. This has no edge, little emotional charge, less originality. Let’s hope it’s a momentary dip in quality, not a forewarning of terminal decline.
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, John Goodman 