IR TV Review: MONSTERS AT WORK - EPISODE 1 (“Welcome To Monsters Inc.”) [Disney+]

When it was first made (this reviewer did interviews during its initial release) "Monsters Inc." and maybe to a lesser point "Monsters University" painted a world that only Pixar can create. But the build comes with time. While the next generation structure definitely can work, it depends on the medium. With "Monsters At Work" (which as the credits show was not done by Pixar but by Walt Disney Animation and some external CGI houses], it seeks to contnue the world but there does seem something missing. The original voices including Mike & Sully (John Goodman and Bill Crystal respectively) are back but it does point to a new perspective in Taylor, a monster trained to be a scarer but now expected to be a jokester. Ben Feldman (known for "Superstore") takes his role in stride but it never jumps off the page or screen. The best part (at least in the first episode] is the character of Fritz played with undeniable gusto by Henry Winkler.

Like Richard Kind's elephant in INSIDE OUT, Fritz brightens every scene he is in. The story structure seems to hint that part of the story will follow this new collection of monsters doing a different job per se but that is why it is interesting to bring back the larger players in what seems like major role. It will be interesting to see how it plays out. But like "Joe Vs. The Volcano", it depends how the approach to life with these characters is taken on (some old school music would help). If done with a bit of subtlety among some gags it could really have legs. However it does have to speak to the target demo (which is younger -- and might not have seen Monsters Inc. at all so it will be interesting to ascertain the eventual story approach and impact as the episodes are revealed. B

By Tim Wassberg