It might have been a better idea to rather than follow up "Monsters, Inc." (2001) with a sequel, instead to wait twelve years and tell us all just how "Sully" and "Mike" et al actually met. So off we go to university where the takes it all for granted "Sully" is a natural at scaring folks, "Mike" - well he couldn't scare the skin off a custard! Initially, it's "Randall" that makes more of an impact on the young green cyclops and, indeed, he and his big wooly colleague really can't stand the sight of each other. A fluke of misfortune forces them to get their act together, though, after they manage to seriously annoy "Dean Hardscrabble" who throws them out of scare class. Only by forming their own fraternity can they hope to survive in the "Scare Games" - winning them being the only way to assuage their furious professor and get back to class. Loads of enjoyable escapades follow as they have to learn to rely upon and trust one another. The mischievous "Randall" shows us some early signs of his duplicity and the competitive nature of the episodic narrative works well at allowing the characters to have fun as they begin that lifelong bond (or not). The writing provides for some humour as we build to a denouement that isn't exactly a surprise, but is still just a little quirkier than expected. Not so good as the first one, but as a re-invention of some amiable characters goes, this is a quickly paced adventure that's not bad at all.
