Monsters University Review

Reviewing Monsters University courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Philippines. Opens June 29 and featuring the voices of Billy Crystal and John Goodman as Mike and Sully respectively.

It's a return engagement to the world of Sully and Mike Wozawski this time however, we take a step back to that time before the events of Monsters Inc. to find out the origin of Mike and Sully's friendship as well as how they actually got to where they are.

In the grand scheme of things, Monsters University is the first daring risk that Walt Disney and Pixar has taken. They've always been known for making sequels but never a prequel. Did they pass the mark? Did they actually do good in this type of feature film story telling? The answer is yes.

There's a lot of cute moments here in Monsters U that will appeal to folks of different ages. It's also chock full of meta stuff, which is amusing considering that all that plus more is wrapped in such a movie. Still after all these years, I'm also still impressed with how Disney managed to cast it's traditional magic in this new movie.

The characters are also evenly matched to their voices; Serenity's Nathan Fillion comes into the film as Johnny the Jaw, Sean Hayes [of Will and Grace] as Terri, Charlie Day as Art and Helen Mirren as Dean Hardscrabble all fit the characters to the T.

Being that it's a prequel, nothing earth-shattering or career ending happens here. No villain dies and Randell Boggs [played by Steve Buscemi] is still alive and still the laughing stock in one form or another. 

As I mentioned earlier, there are a lot of metas that come into play in this movie. One of the most recurring ones happen to revolve around Mike and how he pines to be a scarer, no, the top scarer for Monsters Inc. Of course that doesn't happen in the first movie as its actually Sully who becomes that. While Toy Story delved around friendship and acceptance of what you are, Monsters University focuses more on friendship and growing up together. It's an evolving friendship as seen in the relationship between the two main characters.

Another great thing about Monsters University is the gags. It starts slow but by the time we get to see the big scare fest, you'll be chuckling not only at the antics of Mike and Sully but also with the other OK (Oozma Kappa) members such as Art and Terri & Terry. 

Major props to the production crew for giving us a couple of easter eggs in the movie. Oh and to answer your question, YES, THERE IS ANOTHER POST-CREDIT SCENE and you do not want to miss that.

Overall, Monsters University is a great movie to catch this weekend. Be sure to bring the kids and make it a family bonding moment. Oh and I also advice you to watch it in 3D as it gives more life to the already lively gang of would-be scary monsters. 

Special thanks once again to Walt Disney Studios Philippines. Catch Monsters University as it is released today (June 26). 

THE MIDDLE STOOGE: SEAN HAYES AS LARRY IN “THE THREE STOOGES”

Caught between accidental and intended hits, Sean Hayes stars as Larry in the hilarious comedy “The Three Stooges.” Spanning more than twenty-five years since they appeared on television slapping and poking their way in 190 original comedies, the Stooges are about to be seen in a whole new dimension on the big screen.

In “The Three Stooges,” Larry, Curly and Moe are released into the wild city landscape after spending half of their lives in an orphanage. Out to save the orphanage and raise the money to save the only home they know, they decide to tackle the world outside the only way they know how.

Starring as the troika of knuckleheads are Emmy® and Tony® Award-winner Sean Hayes ("Will & Grace" ), who portrays the balding, sour-faced, bushy-haired Larry; Will Sasso ("MADtv") as the rotund funnyman Curly, whose trademark "nyuk-nyuk-nyuk" usually invites a physical outburst from older brother Moe; and Chris Diamantopoulos ("24," "The Kennedys") as Moe, the dark-haired leader of the farcical trio known for his distinctive bowl-style haircut and intolerant ire.

Given the Stooges’ iconic stature, casting the middle stooge Larry was as formidable a task as Moe and Curly. The part of Larry, who served as the trio's straight man, was in some ways the most difficult to cast because unlike his two cohorts, Larry lacked a distinctive voice. "It's also hard to define exactly what made Larry so funny," says Sean Hayes, who like Diamantopoulos, attended several auditions to land the coveted role. "He certainly was a great reactor."

To help turn the handsome Sean Hayes into sour-pussed Larry, veteran Hollywood wig maker Renate (who has created hairpieces for such characters as Spider-Man, the X-Men, and "Pirates of the Caribbean" anti-hero Jack Sparrow) styled a replica of the original Larry's unique hairstyle. It was a time-consuming routine to do the Larry "'do." Each day of shooting, Hayes had his head shaved, cleaned and prepped. Then, the hair team would draw an outline on his pate, apply glue, and affix the wig to Hayes' head using spirit gum and tape.

The filmmakers, the Farrelly Brothers have brought The Three Stooges' unique brand of humor to modern-day moviegoers. "We're giving audiences something they'll have a great time with," says Chris Diamantopoulos. "The movie is old-fresh," adds Hayes about the film's comedy. "You don't have to be a fan of The Stooges to relate to our modern version." Adds Will Sasso: "The characters are based on the original Three Stooges, but, this is a movie for everybody because it has emotion and heart."

“The Three Stooges” opens October 24 in cinemas from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

THE THREE STOOGES MOVIE REVIEW

Movie review for "The Three Stooges" from 20th Century Fox starring Chris Diamantopoulos, Sean Hayes and Will Sasso together with Jane Lynch, Kate Upton, Jennifer Hudson, Sofia Vergara, and the rest of the cast of Jersey Shore.

The Three Stooges is a remake. Let me make that clear. It's not an origin story. It does however have a modern twist to the dimwitted Stooges crazy antics and it's got a chockful of funny lines, gags and bits. The best part about Stooges is that it manages to retain the sensibilities of the original short films and inject new life thanks to modern quips.

Jane Lynch, Sophia Vergara and Jennifer Hudson in "The Three Stooges"

Television’s classic comedy act “The Three Stooges” will soon be seen on the big screen starring everybody’s beloved Glee Cheerios coach Jane Lynch. In the trio-tular character of Moe, Larry and Curly are Chris Diamantopoulos, Sean Hayes and Will Sasso who were left on a nun’s doorstep and grew up secluded in the orphanage. Years later, the trio tries to help the orphanage when it is forced to lock doors due to financial difficulties.

Jane Lynch portrays the orphanage’s Mother Superior who sees the troika as newborn angels from heaven and later employed the three as the foster home’s maintenance men. As they try and save the day, the three engage in plenty of their trademark antics out of their comfort zone to raise funds for the orphanage.