Blu-ray Review: ‘Monsters University’ Offers Clever Family Fun

CHICAGO – In an incredibly weak time for feature animation (since the glory of 2010, it’s been pretty dark out there), Pixar’s “Monsters University” has enough personality and genuine humor to stand out from its generic competition. It also helps the film’s quest for another Pixar Oscar for Best Animated Film that the recently-released Blu-ray is a gem, loaded with special features and including a spectacula HD transfer. It falls between the amazing “Toy Story 3” and the awful “Cars 2” on the Pixar spectrum but it’s still a good time and will make a lovely holiday season gift.

Rating: 3.5/5.0

“Monsters University” cleverly plays with what parents will already know and love about the college movie genre. The underdogs who overcome all odds — it’s an animated “Revenge of the Nerds” in a lot of ways. Overall, the film has a remarkable momentum, never succumbing to pacing problems like so many 2013 animated films (“Escape From Planet Earth,” “Epic”). Is it as original as the best of Pixar? No, of course not. But there’s enough heartfelt sweetness here alongside quality lessons to impart to your kids that it’s worth a look. And if your little one does fall in love with “University,” there are tons of special features to keep them entertained beyond the film itself. It’s one of the stronger animated Blu-ray releases of the year.

Monsters University was released on Blu-ray on October 29, 2013
Photo credit: Disney

Synopsis:
Disney-Pixar proudly presents the hilarious story of how two mismatched monsters met and became lifelong friends in a movie screaming with laughter and oozing with heart.

Ever since college-bound Mike Wazowski (Billy Crystal) was a little monster, he has dreamed of becoming a Scarer - and he knows better than anyone that the best Scarers come from Monsters University (MU). But during his first semester at MU, Mike’s plans are derailed when he crosses paths with hotshot James P. Sullivan, “Sulley” (John Goodman), a natural-born Scarer. The pair’s out-of-control competitive spirit gets them both kicked out of the University’s elite Scare Program. With their dreams temporarily dashed, they realize they will have to work together, along with an odd bunch of misfit monsters, if they ever hope to make things right.

Pull an all-nighter with hours of exclusive bonus extras, including an inside look at the world of monsters and the animated theatrical short film The Blue Umbrella. Monsters University opens the door to huge laughs on Disney Blu-ray.

Special Features:
o The Blue Umbrella: Theatrical Short
o Audio Commentary
o Campus Life
o Story School
o Scare Games
o Monthropology
o Welcome To MU
o Music Appreciation
o Scare Tactics
o Color And Light
o Paths To Pixar: MU Edition
o Furry Monsters
o Deleted Scenes
o Set Flythroughs
o Art Gallery
o Promo Picks

[10]	By BRIAN TALLERICO [11] Content Director HollywoodChicago.com brian@hollywoodchicago.com [10]