"Surprise me? I doubt that very much."
Another long-gestating Pixar/Disney project finally settles on what initially seems like an odd premise on which to build a children's film - a prequel set in the university years - but it works surprisingly well by staying true to the characters and building a credible friendship. A much-younger Mikey prologue not only sets up the franchise's main premise but serves as an excellent way back into the Monsters world and ties in nicely with the first film. The idealised college design is stunning, and the 3D depth also demonstrates a wealth of detail in numerous background characters and ideas. The high quality of character movement convinces to the extent that the viewer's focus is more on character than cartoon, and with peerless delivery by Goodman and Crystal, the mix of sincere character beats and genuine funny moments builds effectively as the film progresses, in spite of initial concerns of the missing charm that Boo brought to the original. Put up against Summer 2013's main animated rival - Despicable Me 2 - Monsters University comes across as the more complete and satisfying film.
No comments:
Post a Comment