Monsters, Inc. (2001)


Today we wrap up Pixar week with a double dose of monsters.  First up is Monster, Inc.

The Movie:

 Monsters, Inc. is the 4th movie from Pixar.  It was released to positive reviews and critical acclaim.  At the time it became Pixar's highest grossing film and was nominated for multiple Oscars.

Monsters, Inc. tells the story of James P. Sullivan, aka Sulley, and Mike Wazowski, two monsters who work at the title factory in the city of Monstropolis, which is run on power produced by the screams of children.  Sulley is the top "scarer" at the factory, a job in which monsters travel from the monster world to the human world via doors that function as portals to the rooms of sleeping children.  When a little girl is accidentally brought into the monster world, Mike and Sulley have to find a way to get her back to her room while avoiding agents of the Child Detection Agency and Sulley's rival Randall, who is hatching his own schemes.

Monsters, Inc. has always ranked as one of my favorite Pixar films.  The story is innovative, creative, and a whole lot of fun.  There are some nice visual gags sprinkled throughout the movie.  But what makes Monsters, Inc. work the most is the wonderful set of characters.  John Goodman's Sulley and Billy Crystal's Mike work really well together, and the script and voice acting mesh so well that you can feel the chemistry of their friendship.  Also, little "Boo" is absolutely adorable, and it is nice to see Sulley grow into a protective "papa bear" role with her.

Just like the first three Pixar movies, Monsters, Inc. was scored by Randy Newman.  Newman's fine score earned an Oscar nomination, and my favorite moment is the music in the "Right Stuff" homage scene.  The movie's theme, "If I Didn't Have You," is wonderfully fun, both in the instrumental version at the beginning of the movie and in the vocal version with Goodman and Crystal at the end of the movie.  This song also gave Newman his first Oscar after 15 previous nominations.

Presence at the Parks:

 At the Magic Kingdom, there is an attraction called the Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor, located in Tomorrowland.  The show is an interactive comedy show hosted by Mike Wazowski.  It opened in 2007 and replaced the Circlevision 360 show The Timekeeper, which had opened in 1994.  (The theater had also previously housed the films "America the Beautiful" - 1971-74 and 1975-79, "Magic Carpet 'Round the World" - 1974-75 and 1979-84, and "American Journeys" - 1984-94.)


Magic Kingdom Tomorrowland, May 2015
(Laugh Floor sign is in the center of photo)

For a time, Mike and Sulley were character meets at Hollywood Studios, but they are not currently there.  Also, there have long been rumors about a Monsters, Inc. themed attraction or land at Hollywood Studios.  The most substantial one is for a door-themed roller coaster based on the door scene in the movie, as apparently that ride actually came close to being green-lit (and was actually proposed for several parks around the world).  However, as of right now, those plans are on the back burner.

Over on the west coast, there is a dark ride at DCA called Monsters, Inc. Mike and Sulley to the Rescue!  This ride opened in 2006 and is basically an overlay of the notoriously bad Superstar Limo that opened with the park in 2001 and closed almost a year later.  (There are some interesting videos on YouTube that tell all about this ride.)  It remains to be seen if this ride lasts much longer depending on the eventual footprint of a proposed Marvel land at DCA.

On a smaller scale, you can always get yourself a Mike Wazowski candy pop.  (I found mine at the Big Top Souvenirs in Fantasyland.)



Mike Wazowski candy pop, May 2015

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