MONSTERS UNIVERSITY | FAMILY MOVIE REVIEW INFORMATION FOR PARENTS AND KIDS

"MONSTERS UNIVERSITY"
(2013) (voices of Billy Crystal, John Goodman) (G)

QUICK TAKE:: Computer-Animated Comedy: Two adversarial monsters enroll at a university with hopes of becoming professional Scarers in this prequel to "Monsters, Inc."

PLOT:

Having visited there as a young student on a field trip, Mike Wazowski (voice of BILLY CRYSTAL) has always dreamed of working at the Monsters, Inc. factory, where "Scarers" enter children's bedrooms via closet door portals, scare them and collect their screams, which are used as an energy source in Monstropolis.

Accordingly, he enrolls at Monsters University where he hopes to learn how to be a Scarer, but is informed -- along with the rest of the students -- by Dean Hardscrabble (voice of HELEN MIRREN) that if they fail their scream exam at the end of the year, they're out of the program and must major in something else. Mike's chief rival is James P. "Sulley" Sullivan (voice of JOHN GOODMAN), a legacy at the University who's being courted by Johnny (voice of NATHAN FILLION), the president of Roar Omega Roar, to join their fraternity.

Unfortunately for both Mike and Sulley, Dean Hardscrabble deems neither of them as viable Scarer prospects. Yet, they have one shot at redemption and that's through the university's Scare Games. Unable to sign up with any other desirable fraternity in order to compete, Mike ends up joining Oozma Kappa, a small frat filled with students no one else wants and no one believes are scary.

Its members include middle-aged former salesman Don (voice of JOEL MURRAY); Terri (voice of SEAN HAYES) and Terry (voice of DAVE FOLEY) who make up both sides of a two-headed monster; the quite bendable and purpled-furred Art (voice of CHARLIE DAY); and finally the multi-eyed Squishy (voice of PETER SOHN) whose mom owns the house they use as their frat headquarters.

With them needing one more member to compete, Sulley joins them, much to Mike's dismay. But they end up forming a team and a friendship between the two as they enter the games. If they win, they're back in the Scarer program, but if they lose, they'll be out of the university altogether.

WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT?: It's a good bet many will, especially if they're fans of "Monsters, Inc."

WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: G: For not containing material to warrant a higher rating.

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