Film Review: Monster House

Director Gil Kenan's MONSTER HOUSE is acountless others) there's at least one Amercan
welcomed release from all the other resent studioproduced animated film that's actually worth
animation in that there are no singing/talkingwatching.
animals/cars/fish/etc. and its not about the wholeI'm sure all those other films mentioned are fine
"family" unit.but what's left for us Americans to make talk?
This is actually a very fun adventure film withThe slug (although FLUSHED AWAY has a few of
scares about children at that age where theythose)?
must "grow up" and rely on themselves. This filmIt's also conforting to know that they also used
is in the same vein as GOONIES or THEactual children to voice the children in the films,
MONSTER SQUAD and like the former film itwhereas, most other studio animated films rely
takes itself seriously even in the wake of a veryon big name talent. I dare you to find one big
funny story with characters whom you actuallyname actor who hasn't done an animated film
care for.now a days.
I'm not a fan of the "Disney-style" animation thatAlthough there are good supporting big name
every other studio and there mother has beentalent - Steve Buscemi, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Jason
copying for the last few decades. In fact, I'dLee, Catherine O'Hara, Jon Heder, and Kathleen
rather watch WATERSHIP DOWN, THE CAMELTurner, they all have relatively small roles that do
BOY, AMERICAN POP, FRITZ, THE CAT, ornot over shadow the children.
WIZARDS, rather than watch another Pixzar filmI also must credit screenwriters Dan Harmon and
about talking fish and/or cars. Been there, doneRob Schrab with a tremendous script that never
that. It's just not that original anymore, so, itslets up on the action and suspense because in
good to see that in this over abundance onKenan's hands they crafted one of the true
"Disney-knock offs" (i.e. THE ANT BULLY,animation highlights in years.
BARNYARD, OVER THE HEDGE, ICE AGE 2, and