AGW Entertainment writer Lynn b. went to a screening of a new animated comedy film for the whole family. Here are her thoughts on:

MONSTERS INC.

Disney/Pixar

Did you know that Billy Crystal, who provides the voice for one-eyed, green, volleyball "Mike" in Monster's Inc. was originally asked to be the voice of Buzz Lightyear in Toy Story? He regrets turning down the role that Tim Allen got but he is perfectly suited to play Mike and the character employs many of Billy's gestures including his little "bow-legged" walk. John Goodman is the voice of Sulley, a big, furry blue/green and purple monster whose fluffy coat contains nearly 3 million individual, computer-created hairs! These monsters come from your closet but they only "scare because they care".

In Monstropolis, there is an energy shortage. The city runs on the energy of children's screams but it takes more to scare a kid now days so top monster team Sulley (John Goodman) and Mike (Billy Crystal) must try extra hard as they pass from their world into ours through closet doors. Their rival is evil Randall (Steve Buscemi), a shape-shifting, lizard-like critter who wants to break Sulley's scare record.

On the "scare floor" alone one night, Sulley finds that a stray closet door hasn't been put away. He peeks inside, into the child's room and a little girl he names Boo sneaks out into the monster world! Monsters are sure that human children are toxic and very dangerous but Boo is super attached to Sulley, isn't afraid of him and calls him "Kitty". However, she is afraid of Randall who is assigned to scare her.

Sulley grows to love Boo but he must return her to her room before his boss Henry J. Waternoose (James Coburn) learns he's let her into Monstropolis. Sulley breaks up Mike's date with his snake-haired g.f. Celia (Jennifer Tilly) to enlist his aid. Randall is also looking for Boo because he has a secret plan to use the scream energy of kidnapped kids to make him the top monster in Monstropolis!

After fun action moments that include Sulley and Mike spending time in our world, losing Boo, Mike's capture by Randall and a wild chase to find Boo's now missing door, the good guy monsters discover that laughter provides more energy than screams. They foil Randall's plot and return little Boo safely to her side of the closet door.
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I loved this film. The theme that laughter is more powerful than terror is very important considering our current world situation. Monsters Inc. is also about the power of friendship and teamwork and will be teamed in theaters with a wonderful little short cartoon called "For the Birds" which is about treating birds (or people) who look differently with equality. None of these "lessons" is laid on with a heavy hand however.

Monsters Inc. contains a lot of hilarious visual moments like one in which the good guy group of monsters walks down a backlit hall to heroic music like Bruce Willis and crew in Armageddon or the astronauts in The Right Stuff. There are loads of little touches that keep you chuckling. In their locker room at work, the monsters put on "Odorant" instead of "Deodorant" and little round Mike's clawed foot lands in a toilet bowl and he tracks tissue down the hall.

Visually and technically Monsters Inc. is excellent. I loved the production design, especially the Scare Floor with moving closet doors that slide in on huge conveyor belts. Technically the film still keeps the Toy Story look but adds computer detail that makes every hair on Boo or Sulley, move realistically. All the voice actors are wonderful in their roles, really making the jokes and touching moments as well, come alive.

Monsters Inc. will be compared to Shrek but it's a different film. It's not full of in-joke digs at Disney (since it's produced by Disney and partner Pixar). Yes, both movies star a monster/ogre whose personality doesn't fit the mold. Both have wize-cracking sidekicks and both will appeal to the whole family but Monsters is warm and fuzzier. If you are older you may think you'll choke on all the "cuteness" but you'll find yourself loving these characters and rooting for them throughout. Take your family, all your friends and your boyfriend to see Sulley ,Mike and Boo turn nightmares into laugher!

Rated: PG
Official Website: www.monstersinc.com

Directed by Pete Docter
Screenplay by Dan Gerson
Starring the voices of:
Billy Crystal as Mike Wazowski
John Goodman as James P. Sullivan (Sulley)
Steve Buscemi as Randall Boggs
Jennifer Tilly as Celia
Jomes Coburn as Henry J. Waternoose
John Ratzenberger as Yeti