Published at: July 21, 2006, 8:09 a.m. CST by staff
Greetings AICN, MiraJeff here reporting live from Nebbercracker’s front lawn.
That’s right, I’m not scared anymore. Because initially, I kind of was. Honestly, I had no idea what to expect from Monster House. Walking up to the majestic doors of Graumann’s Chinese Theatre, all I knew about the film was that it was about a house that eats people, and Harry friggin’ loved it. And though I fully trust Harry’s opinion, like Jenna Jameson, I’d seen him gush before. So at first I thought it was a bold move to pronounce Monster House as AICN’s 10th Anniversary “Movie,” but now, after seeing it in gorgeous 3-D, I’ve realized that not only was it a smart move, it was the only move.
If Harry’s review was a dart, it would be stuck in the dead center of the dartboard. When the lights went down after Moriarty’s passionate introduction and the Amblin Entertainment logo graced the screen, the clapping began. 91 minutes later, it continued. And in between was the closest thing to The Goonies I think I’ve ever seen, and I mean that in the best way possible.
I knew Monster House would exceed all expectations as soon as the larger-than-life title ballooned from the screen as ominous music filled the darkened theater. There have been so many reviews here on the site I’m not going to bore anyone with a plot synopsis, I just felled compelled to echo everyone else’s sentiments. This is one of those films that reminds you what it’s like to be a kid again. It’s children’s entertainment for adults.
Parents take note, you might not want to bring the little ones to this movie. There were some genuinely scary parts that might keep your kids up all night, peering through their bedroom window blinds at the house across the street. That’s because the movie, as inherently unrealistic as it looks since it is animated, feels frighteningly realistic. Every neighborhood has that crazy old guy who likes his lawn a little too much. Every kid has a friend like Chowder (Sam Lerner) and every boy has a crush like Jenny (Spencer Locke). And every kid thinks of himself as and will be able to identify with D.J (Mitchel Musso). Musso carries the pictures as its fearless teenage hero who seems to actually mature onscreen in just an hour and a half. In fact, the entire voice cast is impressive from top to bottom, and everyone does amazing work, especially Chowder, the sidekick character who steals every scene he’s in.
Lerner and Chowder’s team of animators give every line and every reaction shot serious comic weight. Besides him, we get hilarious supporting turns from Jon Heder and Jason Lee as Skull and Bones, respectively. Kevin James and Nick Cannon are both great as a pair of bumbling local cops. Fred Willard, Catherine O’Hara, and Maggie Gyllenhaal also make the most of their small roles. But the heart and soul of this pictures lies with Steve Buscemi’s character, the mean old man across the street named Nebbercracker. Buscemi has one of the best, most threatening voices in showbiz and he makes the character his own just as much as Andy Serkis is Gollum or Kong.
For Zemeckis, this is a huge step forward after Polar Express, which I still saw twice in the theater, both times in IMAX 3-D. The CGI-animation feels much more natural and looks great in 3-D, even better than Superman Returns, which I regret seeing in 3-D because the ridiculously oversized yellow glasses made the screen look too dark during the plane sequence. As long as everyone gets the same black glasses I got at the AICN screening there shouldn’t be a problem. The colors of the film seem to leap off the screen, which itself appears to be pulsating with life at times, along with the titular house. For Spielberg, this is a return to form.
Not that he ever lost “it” to begin with, but Monster House captures the incredible adventure that is childhood with such whimsy and magic that it evokes the spirit of his earlier films like E.T. and Jurassic Park. Monster House is just proof that these two super-directors make quite a producing pair as well. And whoever found matched director Gil Kenan and this script certainly has knows what they’re doing. Whoever that was, they’re the producing equivalent of the guy who first spotted LeBron James shooting hoops in the gym. Give him a medal or a promotion or both.
Speaking of producers, Ron Howard’s gotta be kicking himself considering Monster House is essentially The Burbs for kids. One of like two movies that Tom Hanks ever made that didn’t make $100 million, The Burbs is one of my all-time favorite guilty pleasures, so it was with geek glee that I watched Monster House and thought of the Joe Dante-directed USA Network-staple. There will also be inevitable Goonies comparisons and all I have to say about the matter is that I am a HUGE Goonies fan and Monster House has the same sense of adventure and comic sensibilities.
I’m starting to feel like my favorite fruit snack, Gushers, so I’ll just implore you, the people, to see Monster House in glorious 3-D. I know it’s a crowded weekend at the box office. I myself will be checking out Mooby’s and Narf-nia or whatever I’m reading about these days on AICN, so I’ll understand if Monster House doesn’t rake in the dough this weekend like the fun but inferior Cars. But trust me, word of mouth will spread like the legs this film will have. Parents who had to sit through Pirates of the Whocares will be treating their kids and themselves to one of the best movies of the summer, let alone the year.
That’ll do it for me, folks. I’ll be back with the same reviews I’ve been promising for weeks now, and a couple more for good measure. If you produce Good Morning America and you’re looking for a new film critic for some reason, or you’re just a loyal AICN reader who wants to say hello or drop a few f-bombs, email me at my NEW address, mirajeff@aintitcool.com.
