To go into the story of this film would be somewhat tedious, because I can sum it up in a way that will explain most of the film. Leaving this film my first thoughts were Revenge Of The Nerds with a Monster exterior, and I firmly believe that is what this film is. The story has the popular kid (Sully), and the unpopular kid (Mike) who eventually are forced to work together in a series of events against the best scare students on campus, exactly like fraternities in a Greeks row battle. Despite some subtle twist and turns the story is the most cliche and lazy story that the company has ever produced. That is not to say everything about the film is poor, because it is enjoyable and offers a handful of laughs (literally maybe 5). Most of which are given to the group of misfits that Sully and Mike get attached to, while the stars lack the opportunity to shine. It was like the quick witted and funny Mike Wazowski that I loved was dulled down into the typical straight man that Sully was in the first film. One straight man is enough, Mike needed to be utilized much more effectively. While the leads advance the plot, the misfits are held in the background, only to pop out to throw a joke now and then. Which would work if the story wasn't so painfully predictable and average. There is also a couple appearances made by Monsters Inc. alums that felt forced and in someways confusing. I can't stand films that rely on nostalgia to enhance a film. Make a good story before you decided to nod the previous films, in this case a film that events happen after this one.
In the end of the day, I found myself watching an average animated film that falls more towards Cars 2 and Brave, than every other film released by Pixar. The last 3 Pixar films are what I consider an extreme rut, one that they have yet to get out of. I don't believe that doing a sequel to great animated films is the answer either. It saddens me that the some upcoming films that Pixar are planning are indeed sequels (Finding Dori). With Toy Story being the only exception to the rule, sequels do nothing for an animated film franchise. Monsters University was unnecessary, forced and not nearly as funny as it should have been. While no animated film this season haven impressed me (Though Epic and The Croods were better than this) both Turbo and Despicable Me 2 rest on the horizon. As for now I will be waiting for Pixar to up its game and get back to what made them great.
Verdict: 2.5 out 5
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