"'Monster' Smash"
by Scott Mantz

"Monsters, Inc."
Billy Crystal,
John Goodman
Directed by Pete Docter

A hard day's fright! It's all in a day's work for Sulley and Mike in "Monsters, Inc."

It's no secret that 2001 has been a downright horrible year for quality Hollywood movies, but as the saying goes, every cloud has a silver lining. Ever since Walt Disney Studios teamed up with Pixar Animation for their first feature back in 1995, they've been pushing the boundaries of computer animation on the big screen. What started with the revolutionary "Toy Story" broke new ground in 1997 with "A Bug's Life." Then in 1999, the team released "Toy Story 2," a bona-fide masterpiece that became one of the rare sequels to outshine its predecessor.

With that said, let's make one thing clear. "Monsters, Inc." is no "Toy Story 2." Come to think of it, it's no "Shrek" either. Where "Shrek" worked on a number of levels by appealing to both kids as well as adults, "Monsters, Inc." seems to be aimed directly at the kids. Sure, there are a few zingers that adults will appreciate, but for the most part, "Monsters, Inc." just doesn't have that ingenious, broad-based appeal that would have given it the "instant classic" status that "Shrek" and "Toy Story 2" both share.

Not that there's anything wrong with that. After all, how can you fault a film that's sharp, witty, adorable, and of course, a feast for the eyes with an exhilarating explosion of colors, pastels, and incredible detail? No matter what, Pixar is four-for-four, batting 1.000 with a movie that's sure to scare up a nice amount of cash at the box office--and beyond.

Actually, the concept of the fourth Pixar film bears a striking resemblance to that of the first three movies--a brave new world that exists just beyond the reach of human awareness. Where the "Toy Story" movies explored the interaction between the toys that came to life when their human owners left the room, "A Bug's Life" explored the interaction between the various insects that lived among the grassy jungles of our front lawn.

This time around, Pixar takes us behind closed doors--bedroom closet doors to be exact--to the wonderful world of Monstropolis, where its frightful citizens work for the sole purpose of powering the city through the energy of the kids they scare at night. Leading the pack is the scream team of James P. "Sulley" Sullivan (John Goodman) and his hyperactive sidekick Mike Wazowski (Billy Crystal). When one of their "clients"--an adorable three-year-old girl named Boo (Mary Gibbs)--infiltrates the compound and sends the monster into a tizzy (it's worth mentioning that the monsters are more scared of us than we are of them), Sulley and Mike race to get her back home before it's too late.

Considering how many times Billy Crystal has voiced his regret about turning down the role of Buzz Lightyear from "Toy Story" (he claims it was strictly business), it's no surprise that he goes for broke with his hyper-animated turn as Mike. It's almost like he's making up for lost time, and of course, he handles the chore like the ton of fun that it should be. John Goodman also makes his mark by giving Sulley a big old heart of gold, and Steve Buscemi adds yet another quirky character (Boggs, the slithery chameleon who is in constant competition with Sulley) to his rather diverse acting portfolio.

Even though the film loses some steam about midway through, the visual extravaganza is sure to keep you occupied until the breathtaking, edge-of-your-seat climax. In addition, the ultimate message--laughter is the best medicine--is hard to resist. Unlike the overblown, incomprehensible dud that was last summer's unwatchable "Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within," "Monsters, Inc." proves that when the story matches the beauty of the animation, a movie can be more than just a good time. In this case, it's a scream.

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