"It’s Laughter We’re After"

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What You Need To Know:
Season two of MONSTERS AT WORK is filled with amazing humor and surprising depth. The first three episodes tackle the challenges of changing one’s occupation and trying to retain friendships at work. The main characters champion a positive worldview of boosting company morale, working together, and improving one’s skills. Moreover, there is witty dialogue and great visual comedy. There is moderate slapstick violence and insults thrown at Tylor’s failed comedic routines. MOVIEGUIDE recommends this series for families and fans who grew up with the original movies
Content:
More Detail:
MONSTERS AT WORK is an animated workplace comedy streaming on Disney +. In season two, Tylor Tuskmon (Ben Feldman), a floundering comedian at Monsters Inc., applies for a rival energy company. Tylor aims for his dream as a Scarer but risks abandoning his closest friends. Meanwhile, Mike (Billy Crystal) and Sulley (John Goodman) face public scrutiny over M.I.’s newly patented “laughter power.” FearCo, a rival company, threatens to undermine the duo’s efforts. Tylor, Mike, and Sulley must rescue Monsters Inc. from bankruptcy.
Season 2 of MONSTERS AT WORK integrates a fully serialized narrative. It encompasses Tylor’s shaky career change and the cutthroat rivalry between Monsters Inc. and FearCo. In Season One, Tylor graduated from Monsters University as a top “Scarer.” Tylor’s “scaring” occupation was instantly made obsolete when he arrived at Monsters Inc. Mike and Sulley, now the leaders of the company, switched from “scream power” to “laugh power.” Tylor learned to be a comedian/jokester while also befriending MIFT, a team of misfits responsible for maintaining factory equipment.
In the premiere episode of Season Two, “A Monstrous Homecoming,” Tylor Tuskmon begins losing his “mojo” as a Jokester. Later, Tylor is invited to speak at a Monsters University reunion, where he graduated top of his “Scaring” class. Tylor trips over his comedy routine and embarrasses himself in front of a packed stadium. In the end, Johnny Worthington (Nathan Fillion), Mike and Sulley’s ego-fueled nemesis from MONSTERS UNIVERSITY, gives a pep talk to the young monster. Johnny hints that his energy company, FearCo, is looking for new scarers.
Episode one is a great introduction. It does an excellent job establishing Tylor’s inner turmoil, stuttering, and ambition to fulfill his life dream as a Scarer. It also retains the witty visual comedy based on the original movies. Mike and Sulley’s subplot of doing endless company paperwork is also charming.
On a technical level, MAW features excellent animation. The new characters (Tylor and his MIFT friends) fit well with the older characters. The sets are vibrant, the lighting is great, and the visual composition is on par with the original MONSTERS, INC. The show doesn’t reach the same visual fidelity as MONSTERS U., but for a Disney + series, it knocks it out of the park.
In episode two, “The C.R.E.E.P. Show,” the MI crew attends the “Convention for Reliable Energy, Efficiency and Power.” Mike and Sulley showcase their alternative “laugh” energy to potential investors. Meanwhile, Tylor gets frustrated with his “unserious” demeanor. Later that day, Tylor realizes he accidentally mixed laughter and screaming power inside the same canister. The convention center will explode if he doesn’t remove that container from Mike and Sulley’s presentation.
“The C.R.E.E.P. Show” is a decent parody of the “trade show” concept. Sulley’s nervousness about public speaking is a great gag. But this episode injects a “ticking bomb” with Tylor’s bomb canister plot. Until now, MAW suffered from a lack of “urgency.” Season one had low-stakes plotlines, making some episodes a slog. This episode (and the rest of season two) benefit from an increased sense of pacing.
In episode three, “Setting the Table,” Tylor schedules a secret dinner/job interview with Johnny Worthington. On the same night, Tylor discovers that Fritz, his mentor at MI, is hosting a work anniversary party at the same location as the dinner. The MI crew invites Tylor to celebrate Fritz’s anticipated “retirement.” Tylor does the herculean task of being in two places at once.
“Setting the Table” exemplifies MAW’s strong moral worldview. Tylor and his colleagues value hard work, mutual cooperation, and friendship. Mike and Sulley host “company team-up” sessions to boost low employee morale. Tylor, Mike, Sulley, and the rest of Monsters Inc. share a strong communal “bond” within the company. Lastly, Tylor and Val (his best lady friend at MI) share a strong platonic bond. He unknowingly inspires Val to explore her interest as a Jokester.
Season two of MONSTERS AT WORK is filled with fantastic humor and surprising depth. The first three episodes tackle the challenges of changing one’s occupation and retaining friendships at work. The main characters champion a positive worldview of boosting company morale, working together, and improving one’s skills. Moreover, there is witty dialogue and great visual comedy. There is moderate slapstick violence and insults thrown at Tylor’s way. MOVIEGUIDE recommends this series for families and fans who grew up with the original movies.