Monsters University - B-

Rated G, 102 minutes

Colorful "Monsters University" lacks originality but still gets laughs

Sully and Wazowski on campus in "Monsters University"

Upfront, I will say "Monsters University," the long-anticipated sequel to the Pixar classic "Monsters, Inc." isn't as original or fun as that 2001 film, and it goes on a tad too long. Yet it's loaded with some colorful characters and enough laughs to make the 14th Pixar film worth seeing. Mike Wazowski (Billy Crystal) and James P. Sullivan (John Goodman) are an inseparable pair, but that wasn't always the case. "Monsters University," set about 10 years before the first film, unlocks the door to how Mike and Sulley overcame their differences (studious Mike vs. laid back Sulley) after they first met in college to become the best of pals. Charming but predictable, "Monsters University" is a pleasantly entertaining entry in the Pixar collage of films, but not its best. Well-voiced with energy by Goodman, Crystal and a large variety of characters, which is part of its problematic, thin script. It revolves around a "Hunger Games"-esque (just much less violent and no deaths) sort of games to see who the scariest is, but the problem is that it's not terribly original or funny, and it takes much too long to resolve. Also a weakness: its most intriguing aspect, how the two started to work at Monsters, Inc., is an afterthought and shown over a collage of photographs at the end. The second is that "MU" is infused with so many different (albeit colorful) characters you may forget who is who (most memorable: a deliciously evil Helen Mirren as the strict headmistress and "It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia's" Charlie Day as the gangly purple creature Art). Third, with the first film a generation ago (12 years), it may take some repeat views of that film to genuinely enjoy this one. Even with those imperfections and lacking the heart of such a well-loved first film, "MU" still provides a few hearty laughs (a sequence with Mike riding a pig is one of them) to keep the young set engaged through many of the quieter, lesser moments of the film. "Monsters University" isn't as frightfully fun as "Monsters, Inc." but you'll have a good time, and is preceded by an unconventional but striking animated short "The Blue Umbrella." And listen closely for Pixar stalwart John Ratzenberger, who's appeared in all the Pixar films, in a voice cameo here too.

Wes's Grade: B-