THE FOLLOWING REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS OF THE DISCUSSED FILM. READERS DISCRETION IS ADVISED.
As long as we can remember, children create the fantasy that there are monsters, hiding in their bedroom to give frighten them at night. We never really wonder why would they think of something like that. Monsters, Inc. gives us a random answer that it’s nothing personal, but only just their job.
PLOT
The film takes place in a universe where monsters scare human children because their screams provide the energy needed for electricity. It is claimed to be dangerous because children are described as toxic. The film follows the polka dotted James P. 'Sulley' Sullivan and the one eyed Mike Wasowski who are top employees of the titular company. On a working day, the spider legged CEO Henry J. Waternoose III notices how children are not so easily scared anymore. One night, Sulley tries to turn in paperwork on Mike's behalf, while he is on a date with his snake haired girlfriend Celia (Jennifer Tilly). However, he discovers a human door that is white with pink flowers. He checks it out and discovers a child outside. He tries to take her back to her door but his working rival Randall Boggs sends it back before he can do so. Thankfully, Boggs did not notice Sulley was there. He goes to tell Mike of the situation but the child causes a scene at the restaurant, resulting it to be quarantined by the CDA (Child Detection Agency). The two friends discover that she is not toxic and her laughter brings stronger energy compared to screaming. They try to sneak her back to her door in the factory, disguising her as another monster, but the CDA are investigating the factory. When Randall discovers that Mike was at the restaurant, he demands him to return the child that Sulley now calls 'Boo'. Sulley is hesitant to return her so immediate when Mike explains his deal because Randall is Boo's monster that's after her. Boggs ends up taking Mike, mistaking him for Boo. Sulley and the child would find his hideout and when the purple monster realizes his mistake, he attempts to use a machine known as the 'Scream Extractor' on Wasowski. Sulley unplugs it in order to save his friend. They go to Waternoose for help but the CEO convinces him to do a scare demonstration. The scarer forgets that Boo is there when he is working, resulting in her being scared. When his boss notices her true identity, Mike explains their situation. Rather than help the child get home, Waternoose would then his alliance with Randall as he exiles both of his employees to the Himalayas, where the Abominable Snowman (John Ratzenberger) lives. Both eventually escape when they discover a human village, knowing that their closets can take them back to their world. When Sulley gets there first, he destroys the machine and rescues Boo in the process. Boo and the two monsters attempt to find her door through the storage vault, banishing Randall in the process. However, Waternoose attempts to frame them and turn them in to the CDA. Mike causes a distraction in order to give Sulley time to take Boo's door to the simulator room. Waternoose chases them down but when he confesses his crimes to his employee, Mike catches it on tape and it gets him arrested. Roz (Bob Peterson), an employee who was an undercover agent of the CDA, gives Sulley a chance to say goodbye to Boo before taking her home and destroying her door. Months later, the company is saved when investing on laughter instead of screams and Sulley is the new CEO. Mike surprises his friend by fixing what remained of Boo's door. Sulley then inserts the last piece and the film ends with him reuniting with Boo.
THOUGHTS
This is one of many films that I’ve seen in a loop during my childhood and after hundreds of viewings, I can’t ever get enough of it. What makes this film so timeless is the lore that surrounds this story. I don't think would've imagined that monsters would be scaring children for the sake of electricity. This idea is truly inventive for an animated film and it can only work in this platform. This is a film from Pixar Animation Studios, so you can't go wrong with the animation here. Since Toy Story set the bar for the studio to be recognized for their heart, there was no exception here either. For me, I am quickly hooked when the opening credits with Randy Newman's music playing to set up the unexpected excitement that will occur. Since this is meant for kids, this movie is pretty funny and of all the scenes that made me laugh the most is the running gag of the character George Sanderson being breached by the CDA, when exposed to children toxics. Besides the creative lore that surrounds the story, all of the characters that appear are what keep every viewer invested. The obvious of which are the two leads, Mike and Sulley. Through their voices alone, actors Billy Crystal and John Goodman successfully reflect the friendship between these characters so well that it felt real. Their friendship defines this movie due to how its put to the test. Sulley always stood out because of how he goes from obnoxious worker to a loyal protector. His point of views towards humans change when he encounters Boo because he sees her innocence and understands how scaring affects children. His relationship with her is such a highlight due to the irony on how she's not afraid of him yet he is afraid of her at first sight. Their bond is the kind of friendship any parent wants to have with their child. So when he has to say goodbye and when she only sees her actual closet is so god damn heart wrenching. Thankfully, you'll be in tears of joy when seeing them reunite. Going back to Mike, he does appear to be a good friend at first as he motivates Sulley to do good at work. He then comes off selfish when it comes to dealing with Boo. But he then redeems himself by helping his friend get Boo home. Going back to the said heart, it is a eeing this relationship where we understand the benefits of overcoming fear as it creates a positive change in our lives. The lives of these two friends changed for the better because they saved their company for understanding through Boo her world is not as dangerous as they thought. The icing on the cake is how he went out of his way to rebuild her door. Seeing him go from stubborn to selfless always satisfies me. These actions by him define friendship goals. The secondary lesson we learn from the two protagonists is that others should be given a chance to fit in, even if not understanding them at first. They didn't know Boo yet they took the chance and the rest was history. If they can do it, it shouldn't be hard for us either. Moving on, Steve Buscemi expresses his acting range in sounding as despicable, as Randall Boggs is supposed to sound. He quickly is someone to dislike not for his appearance but due to his attitude, desperation to be better than Sulley. Also, it's pretty hard to not laugh when Boo overcomes her fear by beating him up to save Sulley. What you learn from him is that your ego should be left at the door every time you go to work. And for James Coburn, he successfully sounds as grizzle as Mr. Waternoose is supposed to. He really is the best example of a surprise villain as Disney likes using because they clearly enjoy on how to expect the unexpected person to go from sociable to the most diabolical. The fact that he's been abducting children before Boo to keep business afloat and prevent the energy crisis, is truly the most terrifying plot to be seen on film because child abduction is real and seeing this exposited in a movie meant for kids is pretty bold. I’ll continue to enjoy this film as I do with most of Pixar’s catalog but despite all the love I have for it, there are still things I can’t get out of my head. First off, how do the monsters get pictures of kids for the files’ sake? It’s a risk if they’re taking it so do they steal it from the home of humans? I mean the first child profile with a picture disturbs me so much that I can’t help but wonder. It is funny that Boo was holding on to Sulley as he tries to get rid of her toys, but when did she hop onto him when he was running around? You’re telling us Boo is fast and that sounds cool but seriously, it’d be more hilarious to see when she made the jump on him. I thought it was pointless how Randall waited for Boo when she wasn’t there. That clearly hasn’t happened before so he should’ve left once he noticed she wasn’t there. I know you raise suspense when Sulley freaks out being touched by her in his house, but that wasn’t the first time. He should’ve gotten over it after the locker room shenanigans. Sure it’s a clever revelation how the protagonists discover Randall’s plot in the bathroom, but why the hell did Fungus talk about it openly? He knows they’ll be in trouble for it and it doesn’t matter if they think they’re alone, you don’t talk about your crimes in a bathroom where the CDA are nearby. It is suspenseful how Randall mistakes Mike for Boo but even if it’s dark, he should know how big Boo is. He scouted her room and has seen her profile picture, so he should’ve known it wasn’t her from the moment he grabbed him. Also, what took Randall so long to set up Boo in the Scream Extractor? Sure they’d have to keep quiet that they kept her but even after that, he should’ve started the extraction immediately once he made it to the secret room. If time is different in both worlds, please explain that. I know it’s a clever ex-machina how Mike uses a snowball and inadvertently hits Randall, but that snowball should’ve melted by the time he made it through his world. It is another intense and hilarious chase how Randall is chasing the protagonists at the door station but why doesn’t he wait it out at Boo’s door? It’d save him less trouble because he’d get the drop on them. While it’s crazy seeing the twist of Waternoose’s actions, am I the only one wondering who built the Scream Extractor? Was it Randall, Waternoose or someone else? That thought drives me crazy every time I see the machine because something as big as that is hard to keep secret. And lastly, I have a lot of respect for Mike to put Boo’s door back together but how did Sulley not notice the marks on his hands? Did Mike move out and live with Celia? That sounds nice but I’d like confirmation on that. However, I’m highly certain that you’ll still be loving this film for what it is once you ignore these flaws. In short, Monsters, Inc. is one of the best films to come from Pixar due to being the most creative at its time, earning its Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature. If you love anything involving monsters, then you will definitely be enjoying this one.
Opmerkingen