Monster House

Three kids discover that the house across the street from them is alive, and eats anything that trespasses on its property. When, surprisingly enough, no one heeds their warnings, the gang set about proving it for themselves. It's always a difficult thing for any CGI or old school animated flick to find a direct audience when it's not squarely aimed at the younglings. Sure, Pixar raised the bar with high brow CGI comedy, but for every Incredibles there's a Final Fantasy, and many a studio has lost the farm on a non-kiddie-friendly cartoon. Kudos then, to director Gil Kenan for making a genuinely affecting horror comedy for young teenagers -with a distinctly Goonies feel. The animation is, of course, top drawer and the voice turns on the button, with all concerned inhabiting their animated characters with suitable amounts of energy. The problem with Monster House lies in its over-elaborate final third, where the plot feels a tad rushed and not as well-developed as it could have been. Admittedly, the relative disappointment of the final third is a direct reflection of the innovative and beautifully handled cinematic goings-on that preceded it; essentially, Monster House raised its own bar but peaked too early in the process. Still, there is plenty to enjoy here and needless to say the kids will absolutely love it; and while some of the darker scenes may disturb say the overly-sensitive 6 year old with a penchant for soiling himself at Scooby Doo, most kids should take it in their stride, with the inevitably happy conclusion answering any unreciprocated sinister questions that the lead up posed. Solid, endearing family fun.