Monsters University (2013)
Average Rating: 6.8/10
Reviews Counted: 175
Fresh: 137 | Rotten: 38
It doesn't scale the heights of Pixar's finest efforts, but Monsters University is still funny and thoughtful family entertainment for viewers of any age.
Average Rating: 6.8/10
Critic Reviews: 40
Fresh: 30 | Rotten: 10
It doesn't scale the heights of Pixar's finest efforts, but Monsters University is still funny and thoughtful family entertainment for viewers of any age.
liked it
Average Rating: 4/5
User Ratings: 224,963
Movie Info
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. -- (C) Walt Disney
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Cast
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Billy Crystal
Mike -
John Goodman
Sullivan -
Steve Buscemi
Randy -
Helen Mirren
Dean Hardscrabble -
Peter Sohn
Squishy -
Joel Murray
Don -
Sean Hayes
Terri -
Dave Foley
Terry -
Charlie Day
Art -
Alfred Molina
Professor Knight -
Tyler Labine
Greek Council VP -
Nathan Fillion
Johnny -
Aubrey Plaza
Greek Council Presid... -
Bobby Moynihan
Chet -
Noah Johnston
Young Mike -
Julia Sweeney
Ms. Squibbles -
Bonnie Hunt
Mrs. Graves -
John Krasinski
Frank McCay -
Bill Hader
Referee, Slug -
Beth Behrs
PNK Carrie -
Bob Peterson
Roz -
John Ratzenberger
Yeti -
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Monsters University Trailer & Photos
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All Critics (175) | Top Critics (40) | Fresh (137) | Rotten (38) | DVD (2)
It is essentially Revenge of the Nerds, with fur. And scales. And whatever gooey, gelatinous substance comprises the outer coating of various other oddball creatures in this crazy parallel world.
Top CriticIt has enough of the right stuff to haunt the imagination long after the immediate buzz of its fluffy-furred cuteness has melted away. For a mere prequel, that's a result.
This is a safe, predictable, edge-free, nearly bland effort from a studio that rarely hedges its bets.
As prequels go, Monsters University is pretty nifty.
Although it falls short of the best Pixar has brought to the screen over its long association with Disney, it's nevertheless worth a trip to the theater, especially for kids.
[It] is true to the spirit of the original film, "Monsters Inc.", and matches its tone. But it never seems content to turn over old ground.
It may not be as inventive as the original, but there's still plenty here to coax a smile, and it's still great family entertainment.
Studios don't often seem to be thinking about the ideal moviegoer, just about the maximum number of moviegoers ... Pixar is no different in that regard, but even in this relatively fallow period ... it's never stopped thinking the most of us.
Directed by Dan Scanlon, whose PIXAR association includes stints working on "Cars," "Brave" and the short film "Mater and the Ghostlights," "Monster's University" is a worthy prequel to what is arguably one of PIXAR's greatest achievements.
There's a rather tired, willed atmosphere hanging over it.
Do these movies have to be so unremittingly bland?
One day, it will be interesting to see in which order children will prefer to play the DVDs of the two Monsters' films. For now, many adults will find the new version has been 'Disneyfied' at the expense of Pixar's more poetic core values.
The loose and familiar interplay between Crystal and Goodman drives the film and gives it endless charm, with Mirren a glorious addition to the cast ...
So many movies, these days, are about nerds and their market value. Dan Scanlon's prequel is the newest, but already feels old.
A worthy addition to the Pixar class of classics.
If you enjoyed Monsters, Inc 12 years ago then you're not going to be disappointed even if it does feel a little slight at times.
It's a strong look at the genesis of a satisfying partnership, but it could be stronger if it trusted that partnership to carry the story.
It is funny. But the longed-for return to Pixar greatness seems as far away as ever.
Pixar revisits the characters from 2001's Monsters, Inc. for a frat-house prequel. Which is kind of an odd setting for a kids' movie.
After an hour it starts to feel like Harry Potter gone wacky and gonzo - and not quite wacky and gonzo enough.
It's not that Monsters University lacks any of the heart or wit of Pixar's finest achievements - the attention to detail and sight gags are as impressive as ever - but narratively speaking this is derivative in the extreme.
The story is so fully and elegantly realised that to call it a prequel would somehow feel like an insult.
Mostly takes the old college tropes and doesn't sneak, crawl or run too far with them. There's a bravura scene near the end that's far and away the film's best 10 minutes. Most spark, spontaneity and character complexity is left for the sideline monsters.
A funny, furry entry for kids yet to experience the horrors of tertiary education, or the disappointment of dashed dreams.
From sunny autumn mornings to rainy afternoons and gloaming dusks, it feels like the couldn't-be cartoonier characters are going about their business in a very real world.
Audience Reviews for Monsters University
Super Reviewer
Mike is off to Monsters University to become a scarer, only problem is he's not very scary, but he's book smart, so he learns all he can on the art of scaring. Sulley is a bit of a jock and thanks to his privileged family background he has a good reputation and following. He's a good scarer and indeed scary but not so book smart, so in essence these guys need each other. Even more so after getting kicked off the scaring programme they must both work together with a team of nerds to win the scare games and get back into the scare programme (the word 'scare' is used by the bucket load in this).
My initial thoughts on this were skeptical I admit, another prequel which seems to be the trend these days, why not a straight forward sequel. These thoughts were virtually obliterated as Mike jumps off the bus and enters into the Uni. Do I really need to talk about visuals here? one word...awesome! these animated films just get better and better. Everything just looks so damn real! the slimy monsters look slimy, the furry ones look perfectly furry, everything has such a solid realistic sense and weight about them its fantastic. The colours are bright, bold, vivid and gosh darn beautiful.
On top of that the detail here is astounding, everywhere you look in each frame or scene there is something going on. Of course being set within a school there is plenty to create, plenty of visual gags, homages, in-jokes, parodies etc...the possibilities are pretty endless and sure enough its all covered here. Yeah sure a lot of it is cheesy and cliched, we've seen many of these high school-like pranks and party scenarios with jocks and dweebs before, its an old concept, but it all looks good enough to eat.
Its actually pretty cool to see a very young Mike Wazowski, he looks so adorable, I really felt sorry for the little guy when he gets pushed around. Once he's grown up a bit and voiced by Crystal that cuteness falls by the wayside but never mind. I really liked all the other characters in the school, it must have been hard to create so many unique looking creatures, there are some that look a bit lame, a bit similar, a bit Dino-esque but in general a nice selection. The middle aged textile salesman monster 'Don Carlton' was a great little creation although he does look somewhat like Mario.
I really did like some of the fraternity monsters especially, the monster that looked like an eagle with horns and his mohawk/mullet-like hair. I also liked how they came up with stereotypical types of monsters which parody reality...the goth/emo kids, the girly cheerleader types, the porky kids, the poindexters etc...I REALLY liked the brief appearance of the scream can design teacher haha like an overly hairy Muppet. It was also cool to see 'Randall' back as for some reason I didn't expect to see this guy. So not only do we get to see how Mike and Sulley become friends we also see how Randall comes to hate Sulley.
The scare games predictably do go the way you know they're gonna go, but the finale scaredown is cool and fun to watch. What I liked is the actual ending to the film doesn't play out as you'd expect, there is a little twist and the good guys don't totally win in every way you'd expect them too...which is cool.
There are absolutely tonnes of good morals, good values and good lessons to be learnt in this film, a great motivational spirit lifter for all ages (especially the younger gen of course). Maybe a little bit more for the kids this time but still thoroughly entertaining, the perfect underdog story, or should that be undermonster? zing!.
Super Reviewer
Super Reviewer
But what do you do if you're a green little underdog, shaped like a disco ball and with the physical intimidation of a pear? Who moreover have to compete with bigger, hairier, altogether superior creatures?
Speaking as someone who loved the original, the wait for a sequel has been extensive indeed. Twelve years to be exact, but better that the ideas have been allowed to sprout for a while, as opposed to forced into existence like your average Michael Bay dud. As a bonus, we now also have the technical advances, where colors, shapes, resolution and 3D-effects render the monster constellations more palpable than ever.
In this prequel by Dan Scanlon, we meet Mike and Sulley in their wild years at the university. Mike is the ostracized bookworm. Sulley the cool jock-type with a well-respected family name. As different as chalk and cheese, which makes the portrayal of how they became inseparable friends - as well as fully fledged frighteners - all the more enjoyable to watch.
Naturally, there are a few moral lessons to be conveyed, but it sort of comes with the territory and as long as it holds back on the saccharine (watch The Lorax for an example on how not to do it) I see no reason to whip out any pointers.
A lot of monsters for your buck. And even if the film doesn't graduate with straight A's, it certainly holds enough merits to proudly put up a diploma as one of Pixar's better accomplishments.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mikes-Movie-Reviews/281824101875153?ref=hl
Super Reviewer
Movies Like Monsters University
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- Dean Hardscrabble: Mr. Sullivan, I am a 7 year-old girl...
- Sullivan: (roars)
- Dean Hardscrabble: I wasn't finished. I you were to know that that 7 year-old was afraid of snakes, a mere roar would not make her scream, it would make her cry, thus alerting her parents of the existence of our world, which would lead to utter destruction. And we wouldn't want that, would we Mr. Sullivan? I thereby suggest that you would not continue with us in the Scaring Program.
- Sullivan: But, I'm a Sullivan.
- Dean Hardscrabble: Well, then I'm sure your family would be very disappointed.
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- Dean Hardscrabble: You did what?!
- Sullivan: Mike had nothing to do with it, it's just...I cheated.
- Dean Hardscrabble: I want you off this campus by tomorrow morning!
- Sullivan: Yes, ma'am.
- Dean Hardscrabble: You are a DISGRACE to this university, and to your family!
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- Terri: He's like a mountain! With fur!
- Sullivan: Oh come on, I don't even work out.
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- Randy: I can tell we're gonna be the best chums, Mike!
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- Squishy: Start the car!
- Ms. Squibbles: Seatbelts!
- Squishy: Ok, now go!
- Ms. Squibbles: Does anyone want gum?
- Squishy: Just drive!
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- Dean Hardscrabble: You're just not scary.
Discussion Forum
| Topic | Last Post | Replies |
|---|---|---|
| What is your Favorite Pixar Movie? | 38 days ago | 203 |
| Guess the Tomatometer!! | 4 months ago | 102 |
| ANIMATED WAR | 2 months ago | 23 |
| 67%? Not a good start for Pixar | 4 months ago | 20 |
| Isn't "B" possitive? | 4 months ago | 14 |
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Foreign Titles
- Die Monster Uni (DE)
- Monsters University (UK)
Monsters University is a great film. It's both funny and sentimental in all the right places. Fans of the first movie will see a lot of cameos in this one. The story ends when Monsters Inc. begins. I will even advise the next generation to see Monsters University first and then go on to Monsters Inc.
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.