Review: MONSTERS UNIVERSITY

MONSTERS UNIVERSITY  (FAMILY/ANIMATED)
Two and a Half out of Four Stars
Directed by Dan Scanlon
Voices of:  Billy Crystal, John Goodman, Helen Mirren, Peter Sohn, Joel Murray, Steve Buscemi, Nathan Fillion
Rated G (scary moments, mostly mild)
Verdict:  Technologically stellar and gorgeously rendered, Pixar's latest work is merely watchable if unimpressive in just about every other department, with surprisingly thin characterization, an airy formula and a shortage of humor.  Regardless, it is fine family entertainment; likely to delight children and watchable enough for the older audiences escorting them, even if it won't last long after you leave the theater and may not be worth going to for the viewers who remember seeing the original in a theater, that is unless you can find someone under ten to tag along.

Pixar, the studio that is "all about story", is not what they once were.  Their newest film, MONSTERS UNIVERSITY, which returns to the world of MONSTERS INC. when the scaring team of Mike Wazowski (v. Billy Crystal) and James "Sulley" Sullivan (v. John Goodman) first met in college, is their most formulaic film to date by far, albeit not their weakest film.  While it's far more watchable than the obnoxious toy commercial that was CARS 2, the characterizations are nonetheless strikingly thin, the laugh rate is low and often cheap and the overall product feels hollow and airy.
Being a Pixar film, their since-tarnished reputation of greatness makes one prone to be overly harsh, so it is important to emphasize that it's still a largely positive film, especially for its main demographic of families and children.  While MONSTERS INC. was one of the more innocent films of Pixar's "Golden Age", MONSTERS UNIVERSITY is actually juvenile, but will delight those under the age of ten, while being watchable and even somewhat entertaining for their older escorts.  However, unlike top-notch family entertainment ought to, it probably doesn't offer enough for most of those older viewers who might be tempted to brave the children-dominated crowd without one of their own.
After the more Sulley-centric original, Mike takes the spotlight in MONSTERS UNIVERSITY, which opens at his childhood, when he first witnesses the going-ons at Monsters Incorporated's Scare Floor and is inspired to devote his life to becoming a Scarer.  Through years of hard work and devoted studying, Mike is admitted into Monsters University's prestigious Scare Program.  Despite his hard-pressed devotion, Mike finds himself shown up by Sullivan, the son of a legendary scarer, who coasts by on his family name and natural ability.  After they get in a conflict during a testing session, Mike and Sulley are ejected from the Scaring Program by the hard-boiled Dean Hardscrabble (v. Helen Mirren).  With the approaching campus Scare Games, Mike sees his last chance to become a scarer, but competitors must be in a fraternity, so he joins the only frat accepting anyone:  Oozma Kappa, a traditional assortment of misfits who've also been kicked out of the Scaring Program.  Short on one member, and Sullivan having nothing to lose, he joins the Oozmas, to the chagrin of Mike, but as the Oozma's best hope.  Further upping the stakes is Mike's bet with Hardscrabble, that if the Oozmas win the Scare Games, she'll re-admit them into the Scare Program, but if they lose, Mike and Sulley will leave the school.
Strong points first; the CG rendering is magnificent, beautiful, and it ought to be, considering how long they've been at it.  It honestly looks like a true, real world environment, and a lot of the set designs are very stimulating.  The film's use of technology is definitely its greatest point of recommendation.  Occasionally, there are some really fun visual surprises, especially a Scare Games challenge that takes place in a library.
Entertainment-wise, it has enormous value for younger audiences, with plenty of colorful, soft-edged characters and visual humor; for older audiences, the it is very watchable, although it is less likely to engage them for the very same simplicity which makes it so ideal for children.  There are plenty of nods to classic (and far more R-rated) college comedies, and those who were children when MONSTERS INC. was released twelve years ago might have fun picking up on the occasional nods and origins to various elements and characters from that film. 
And even for all the simplicity in the prequel to Pixar's arguably most innocent film, there's also a couple of refreshing themes that are touched upon, if lightly, that many children's films avoid at ridiculous costs.
Now, the negatives; most prominent is the film's heavy reliance on formula.  The story rarely, and hardly ever, deviates from its formula of one measure REVENGE OF THE NERDS, one measure ANIMAL HOUSE and half a measure of THE DEFIANT ONES, all watered down to suit a family audience in a way that has been seen too many times before.
The humor is surprisingly infrequent for Pixar, and the success rate of the gags is disappointingly low as well, often due to an eye roll-inducing cheapness.  Where the film's humor works best is when it plays it weird, such as the Gonzo of Oozma Kappa, Art (v. Charlie Day), who delivers some surprisingly funny and bizarre quips in response to unlikely situations.
For a film that works so successfully on a visual level, most of the new monster designs are sadly bland and uncreative, relying largely on a few basic shapes in a set of colors.  Of course, there are a few exceptions, such as the creepy Hardscrabble who looks the part of a hybrid between a dragon and a centipede, and Art, who resembles a purple, furry arc with a face in the middle.
I think the biggest disappointment here is the weakness of the characterizations.  MONSTERS INC. wasn't the richest of Pixar's best, but the characters were well-layered and filled out.  These characters, including the ones returning, feel incidental, with little more than a minor bit of soul-probing late in the film.  Added to this is the film's pacing and generic plot leave the film with a hollow, airy feeling, like a lacking of substance.
Then again, the hollowness allows the film a breezy sense of being, so while you may not take away much, it isn't boring.  So go out and take the family; it's as good or better than most of the slim pickings of family films out there; not because everyone else is still behind Pixar; but because either due to the competition's progress, or Pixar's apparent lack of focus, the field is more leveled these days; but MONSTERS UNIVERSITY is familiar, comfortable and harmless.

Short Film: THE BLUE UMBRELLA, Directed by Saschka Unseld
Three out of Four Stars

The animated short film playing with MONSTERS UNIVERSITY, as per Pixar tradition, is a mildly charming fantasy about a romance between a pair of umbrellas in the city.  Again, the technology is the true star here, as the short film is primarily a showcase for incredible "ultra-photorealistic" computer rendering.  The fantasy/romance angle feels slightly reminiscent of PAPERMAN, the short film that played with last year's WRECK-IT RALPH, but falls far short of that standard.  On the other hand, it's pleasant and sweet, with some excellent eye candy.