‘Monsters, Inc.’ not just for kids
By Jennie Loughridge
Old Gold and Black Reviewer

One of the greatest things about Disney movies is their ability to appeal to children and adults alike. So many movies fail to appeal to any audience, so when a film is able to entertain people of all ages I am really impressed. Monsters, Inc. is one of these movies that you can’t help but enjoy, no matter how old you are.

Monsters, Inc. is the newest animated feature from Pixar Studios, makers of Toy Story and Toy Story 2. Their latest feature is just as creative and imaginative as the Toy Stories.

Monsters, Inc. tells the story of the frightening creatures that all children fear when the lights go out. But it turns out the scary monster routine is just an act. It’s their job to make children scream — in fact it’s their source of power. The children’s screams of terror are bottled up and turned into the energy source that powers Monstropolis. Just as the company’s slogan says, “we scare because we care.”

The monsters have to take great measures to assure that no children ever get into their world, which is accessible through your closet door (of course!). The monsters all fear children and think young humans have the power to destroy them with one touch.
As children become less fearful, Monsters Inc. is having trouble meeting their scare quotas. Monstropolis is facing a major energy crisis that no monster can fix, not even the best employee, a blue furred big-clawed creature named Sully (voice of John Goodman). Then, the worst fear of monsters everywhere comes true — a little kid gets into their monstrous world.

I have to admit that I didn’t want to see this movie at all. In fact, the main reason I went to see Monsters Inc. was because I knew that I would get to see the trailer for Star Wars Episode II. After seeing that, I didn’t think any movie would really interest me. But Monsters, Inc. really sucked me in.

I cared about these monsters. I was astounded by how creative and imaginative the animated movie was. On top of all that, I found myself saying, “That is the cutest computer animated kid I’ve ever seen.” And I think that’s what I liked about the movie — I forgot I was watching computer-generated images. Instead, I was wrapped up in a good story with interesting characters.

Sully heads up this list of characters. He is the good-hearted monster with a talent in scaring kids. Sully and his one-eyed assistant Mike (voice of Billy Crystal) are quickly nearing the all-time scaring record. However, when a little girl accidentally enters the monster world, their roles reverse, and the monsters become the terrorized.

But Sully soon realizes that the little girl, who he calls “Boo,” is actually not scary at all. The little girl then realizes that the big blue monster isn’t that scary either. In fact she calls him “Kitty.”

Boo, who can barely talk, is one of the best parts of the movie. She’s the most realistic child in any Disney movie, in the sense that she doesn’t really have any lines — she just babbles and laughs and cries. But it’s really funny. And she is really cute, even if she is just a computer-generated image.

Monsters, Inc. is an extremely entertaining movie. It’s very funny and well written, and the story flows nicely. You never feel like you’re watching a kid’s movie, and maybe that’s the best thing about it. It is a children’s movie, yet it never feels like a movie made for eight-year-olds.

If you’re looking for a funny, light-hearted film then I think Monsters, Inc. is just your thing. And if you think you’re too cool to go to a Disney film, then just buy a ticket for Corky Romano and sneak into the appropriate theatre.