We’re ranking the films of Pixar Studios, leading up to the release of Inside Out.
Director: Dan Scanlon
Writers: Dan Scanlon, Daniel Gerson, et. al.
Monsters University mixes the cuddle-fuzzy monster friends audiences know and love with Revenge of the Nerds. It’s the kind of simple combination that marks the creativity of Pixar. Unfortunately, the premise doesn’t really make Monsters University particularly memorable in the canon. Next to Cars 2, Monsters University is the studios most forgettable affair.
Like Cars, Monsters University lacks the thematic richness of Pixar’s best work. But that’s also true of Monsters, Inc. The difference between Inc and University, is that Inc is simply hysterical and gorgeously animated. It is funny and fresh and is visually is superior to animated monster films of the same vintage (looking at you, Shrek). But where Inc is hilarious, University is funny. While University still looks great, it doesn’t provide the wow-factor of Inc.
Which is to say: Monsters University is unoriginal. It has much of the wit and whimsy of the original, but Mike and Sulley are left playing a familiar college story of two competitive freshman that will learn to respect each other before becoming great friends.
The best of Monsters University comes in the opening scenes. Director Dan Scanlon does a beautiful job rendering the youthful Mike Wazowksi (voiced by Billy Crystal) and James P. Sullivan (John Goodman). The kid and college version of the monster duo are inspired, and their scenes of introduction, to each other and to college life, are really funny.
But even these scenes just feel….familiar. The competition that will lead to a close bond-we know they’re the best scare-tandem in the business based on the original-means the film has to find other avenues for creativity. And, really, it doesn’t surprise. Their origin story doesn’t bring the emotion, and the college antics are geared towards too young an audience to really provide any biting satire.
By the time Monsters University was released, it was evident that Pixar was not quite the same studio it had been even five years earlier. The rest of the movie industry had caught up to their singular computer animation talent, and their originality and inventiveness seemed to be waning.
The fur on Sulley, though…has anything ever looked better on the big screen?
Best Line: “Just think of me as your big brother that’s marrying your mother. Wait, hold on, we’re brothers who share the same mom slash wife.”
Pixar Character that Looks most like his Voice Talent’s head: Mike Wazowski / Billy Crystal
College Detail That Hit’s Home: Students at the School of Scaring all hit the paw of the school’s front-lawn statue for luck, causing a shiny soft-spot on the statue from all the friction.
Best support VO work in Pixar’s best Cast: No one beats John Goodman at voice work, but special note is given to Helen Mirren, for her work as Dean Hardscrabble, who is just the right amount of scary to scare her students into line.
Disney Bonanza of 2013: Monsters University brought in $268 Million in the US, and $743M worldwide. Making it the third most successful DISNEY film of the year. Iron Man 3 made $808 Million worldwide, while Frozen made $1.2 Billion
Ratzenberger: 
Best Animated Feature: It joins Cars 2 as the only other Pixar film to hold that undistinguished title: Not Nominated. Frozen won.
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