After a positively celebrity packed weekend of partying,
I was looking forward to unwinding at the premiere of Monsters
Inc. No need to exert my fragile brain trying to figure
out plots and twists.
5
years in the making and at a cost of who knows what, director
Pete Docter should certainly be proud of what he has made
(and he is, I asked him!).
Based in Monstropolis, where monsters live, the story revolves
around Monsters Inc., the largest processing factory of
human screams. These screams are collected by monsters,
who enter children's bedrooms through their closets at night.
The screams are then converted into power, which supplies
the monster world.
This
nightly ritual is made more difficult by the fact that the
monsters believe children to be toxic. The smallest bit
of contact is treated with emergency status.
Our
two main characters are James P. Sullivan, known as Sulley,
(John Goodman) an eight foot tall green/blue monster and
Mike Wazowski (Billy Crystal) a one-eyed green one. Sulley
is the well-respected top 'scarer' and Mike is his assistant,
best friend and flatmate. Between the two of them they make
a good team and both know that they wouldn't survive without
each other.
After one days scaring is over and all monsters have gone
home, Sullry discovers a closet door that has not been returned
to the 'door vault', a cavernous safe keep for over 5.7
million individual closet doors!
Going
in to investigate, Sulley unsuspectingly triggers off subsequent
events that will change his life. These events are sparked
off by the arrival of Boo, the cutest animated child ever.
On the run from the CDA (Child Detection Agency - very FBI),
Sulley enlists the help of his buddy Mike and together they
set out to right the wrongs that have occurred.
Nothing
goes to plan however, as Randall, a slithery lizard like
monster (voiced by Steve Buschemi), tries his utmost to
stop them from returning Boo to reality. Forgive me if I
don't go into Randall's dastardly plan, but I was surprised
at the sudden twist taken and don't wish to spoil it for
you.
For
an animated film, Monsters Inc. is brimming with emotion.
There are some very heart felt scenes between Sulley and
little Boo. On the other hand, Billy Crystal is on top form
as is the comedic Mike Wazowski. Keep up with his fast paced
dialect as you might miss some hilarious one liners. Also,
please wait until the entire film is over before you leave
the cinema... herein lie pieces of absolute genius.
Industry
rumour has it that Monsters Inc. will be pitched against
Shrek for this years newly created Animated Film category
in the Oscars®. My money is on the monsters, but go and
be scared and judge for yourself.
Verdict:
(5 stars out of 5) Wayne Cronin.
Monsters
Inc. is on general release from February the 8th
Cert: General Running Time: 91 minutes
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