 Matt Zoller Seitz of Chicago Sun @-@ Times gave the film four stars out of four , saying it " is true to the spirit of [ Monsters , Inc . ] and matches its tone . But it never seems content to turn over old ground . " Trevor Johnston of Time Out gave the film four stars out of five , writing " It has enough of the right stuff to haunt the imagination long after the immediate buzz of its fluffy @-@ furred cuteness has melted away . For a mere prequel , that 's a result . " Steven Rea of The Philadelphia Inquirer gave the film three stars out of four and said it " is cute , and funny , and the animation , though not exactly inspired , is certainly colorful . " Jake Coyle of Associated Press gave the film three stars out of four , saying it " might not be as gifted as some of its other movies , but sometimes it 's alright to be OK . " Peter Travers of Rolling Stone gave the film three stars out of four , and said " It 's all infectious fun , despite the lack of originality . In the art of tickling funny bones , Crystal and Goodman earn straight A 's . " Richard Corliss of Time gave the film a positive review , saying " This minor film with major charms still deserves to have kids dragging their parents to the multiplex for one more peek at the monsters in the closet . With Pixar , familiarity breeds content . " Bill Goodykoontz of The Arizona Republic gave the film three and a half stars out of five and said it is " one of those movies that has absolutely no reason to exist , but once you 've seen it , you 're kind of glad it does . " Alan Scherstuhl of The Village Voice gave the film a positive review , saying " Monsters University feels not like the work of artists eager to express something but like that of likable pros whose existence depends on getting a rise out the kids . It 's like the scares Sully and Mike spring on those sleeping tykes : technically impressive but a job un @-@ anchored to anything more meaningful . " 
