It’s happened.  A film that makes me wish I was back in undergrad, simply so I could rush a sorority.  Python Nu Kappa is a real thing, right?

Anyway, Monsters University may not be the newest story you’ve ever seen — the Losers Make Good theme has been trotted out a zillion times, including Meatballs, The House Bunny, and of course Revenge of the Nerds) — but it’s got amazing Pixar graphics and a lot of heart.  And it brings together Sully and Mike from Monsters Inc., with their own particular brand of origin story.  MU will be a treat for the kids, and for adults that just want to sit back and enjoy a kids movie that provides laughs for everybody.

Mike Wazowski and James P. “Sully” Sullivan (Billy Crystal and John Goodman) are quite a team over in Monsters Inc.  But how’d they get to be so close?  Monsters University takes a look at their college life, and even gives us a peek at Mike’s life in elementary school.  Let’s just say he wasn’t the scariest guy on the block.  But Mike, and Sully, get accepted into MU, and before too long it’s a rivalry that takes them from dorm room to Greek life, library to frat party…and ends up with them trying to be the biggest scarer on campus.  You know that’s not gonna be easy.

Pixar just seems to get better and better every year, and that’s the case here.  Sully’s turquoise and purple fur looks so light and fluffy I found myself wishing I could touch it.  The campus itself is gorgeously drawn, with tons of the little touches of humor fans will go back check out to once this sucker hits DVD.  There are some great new characters and voice actors too, including Helen Mirren as Dean Hardscrabble, a monster so famous for being good at what she does that she’s a living legend.  Typecasting?  John Krasinski as scarer superstar Frank McCay makes an impression on young Mike, along with a slew of other famous folks, including Alfred Molina, Julia Sweeney, Bonnie Hunt, Nathan Fillion, Sean Hayes, Dave Foley, Steve Buscemi…oh, you get the picture.

A few more things you’ll want to  know; Scare Pigs are awesome, the Student Body President has three eyes (check under her bangs for the third), and there are plenty of characters from Monsters Inc., including a few of the lesser known “employees”.

Monsters University takes the usual “Monsters Are Scary” idea and twists it around much like Monsters Inc. did.  And like Monsters Inc., I was rooting for little kids to be scared pantsless.  Does that make me horrible?  Not if I was in PNK.  Sigh.  A gal can have a dream.

P.S.: Be sure you get to your seat in plenty of time, as you’ll want to catch Pixar’s 2013 nominee for Best Animated Short (what?  It’ll happen, trust me), The Blue Umbrella.  The animation/CGI is simply staggering in this story of how items in your typical city street — gutters, downspouts, traffic signs, etc. — root for a blue umbrella to find his love-at-first-sight match during a rainy day.