MONSTERS UNIVERSITY - FILM REVIEW

MONSTERS UNIVERSITY

Release Date: 12 July 2013
Director: Dan Scanlon
Running Time: 110 Minutes
Starring: Billy Crystal, John Goodman, Steve Buscemi, Helen Mirren (voices)
Screening Reviewed: London Press Screening

Reviewed by Kyle Pedley

Ah, Disney-Pixar. Never again shall I doubt the partnership of the house of mouse and jumping desklamp as arbiters of the movie sequel. My initial trepidation at the very concept and essence of Monsters University combined with a general nonchalance for prequels as a whole meant I was more than prepared for this latest offering to be a passable but altogether unremarkable affair that would surely pale in comparison to its brilliant, charming and imaginative predecessor. In fairness, these concerns were not altogether unfounded - Pixar's output of late has been a little hit and miss to say the least (Brave, anyone?) and their most recent sequel took an already below-standard franchise and elevated it to new levels of stagnancy with Cars 2 just two short years ago. And yet thankfully Monsters University washes away any bitter aftertaste of oil, grime or haggis (forgive the Celtic stereotyping) and presents a vibrant, gleeful and irrepressibly charismatic romp that is every bit as enjoyable, hilarious and entertaining as Monsters Inc. before it.

WRECK-IT RALPH - FILM REVIEW

WRECK-IT RALPH

Release Date: 8 February 2013 (UK)
Director: Rich Moore
Running Time: 108 Minutes
Starring: John C. Reilly, Sarah Silverman, Jack McBrayer, Jane Lynch, John Tudyk (voices)
Screening Reviewed: London Press Screening

Reviewed by Kyle Pedley

You’d be forgiven for thinking that Walt Disney Animation Studios and their friends over at Pixar may have thrown one another’s projects at each other of late, so role reversing have been their outputs in Wreck-It Ralph and Brave this past year. Whereas Brave was a passable but pedestrian Princess fable more in keeping with the House of Mouses tradition back catalogue, Ralph is a wonderfully original and inventive post-modern delight bursting with the kind of charisma, charm and self-assuredness that is usually associated with the braver and more audacious outings of Pixar.

BRAVE: MOVIE REVIEW

BRAVE

Release Date: 17th August (UK)*

Director: Mark Andrews, Brenda Chapman, Steve Purcell

Running Time: 100 Minutes

Starring: Kelly Macdonald, Billy Connolly, Emma Thompson, Julie Walters and Robbie Coltrane (Voices)

Screening Reviewed: US Theatrical Release

Reviewed by Kyle Pedley

For a Studio so proudly determined in developing consistently original and unique cinematic outings over the course of it’s highly successful existence, Brave seems to represent the first time originality and purely self-contained storytelling have fallen by the wayside for animation giants Pixar. Whilst this may not deliberately have been the case, it is difficult to ignore the fact that their latest feature length outing, which depicts the story of feisty Scottish princess Merida, is their most pedestrian, by-the-numbers offering since 2006’s Cars (ignoring that films risible 2011 sequel). 

At a time when Katniss Everdeen has given ‘girl power’ its latest shot in the arm (likewise with bow in hand) and other releases such as Snow White and the Huntsman have similarly empowered their princess leads, so much of what Brave seems set on telling and showing us with its central protagonist seems a little old hat and unremarkable to say the least. Little time is wasted on establishing Merida as an independent and headstrong yet fortunately quite likeable young woman, daughter to Billy Connolly’s bawdy King Fergus and Emma Thompson’s resolute yet overbearing Queen Elinor, and within the first few opening scenes the tension and dynamics between the royal family are very effectively laid out. Merida feels stifled by royal protocol and the way of life expected of her whilst Elinor is the atypical over-zealous parent who is firm out of necessity yet distanced and detached as a result.