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Hello Cinephiles,
Today we’re talking about the 2022 film Monster High.
Story
The story started really cliché but had some great moments. It’s not ridiculously great for the story, but it was competent.
Score: 0.5
Characters
The characters are completely different from the source material. That being said, the characters are both entertaining and diverse in a way that I wasn’t expecting.
I like the overall feel of the characters trying to find themselves and the drama of high school. I also appreciate the ND representation along with the gender-neutral character Frankie.
I have to say, I did not guess the villain and I was happy to be surprised. It all fit with hindsight and that’s the best sort of reveal.
Score: 1
Dialogue
I’m going to be honest, I have no idea how teens talk anymore. This felt stilted at times but still fun. The vocabulary and innuendo level definitely geared for younger kids.
There’s a lot of borderline cheesy but empowering dialogue.
Score: 0.5
Visuals and Music
The visuals were colourful and well filmed. The camera work showed a cinematographer who understood monster movies. The sets, costumes, makeup, and special effects were acceptable.
I was impressed by the music. Some of the same people who worked on this also worked of Descendants and/or Julie and the Phantoms. They brought that quality to this.
Score: 0.5
Fun
The movie was a little slow to start but once we got the first song, it picked up. The entire family loved it. The 6yo more than the 3yo, but not by much.
It was a fun boarding school mystery adventure; my wife and I loved it.
Score: 1
Overall
Those that loved the TV show will be incensed at the changes. It uses the look and feel and spins its own story.
Taken on its own, it’s a great monster twist on the boarding school adventure genre. The characters, music, and story are fun with a hopeful message.
Final Score: 3.5 Stars out of 5