**** Monster House (July 21, 2006)

Columbia Pictures

Running Time: 91 minutes

Rated: PG

Voice Actors: Steve Buscemi, Nick Cannon, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Kevin James, Jason Lee, Katherine O’Hara, Katherine Turner, Fred Willard.

One initial negative in this film was the failure to utilize noticeably the wonderful voice of Kathleen Turner. One hoped for a larger part for her. Another point is the release time. This is a Halloween movie which is being released during the Dog Days of Summer. The ways of marketers are unfathomable.

That being said the film is a delight. The baby sitter and her boy friend lend unfortunate verisimilitude to the backdrop. The characters of the three children are wonderful. The arrogant precocious Preppie girl is brilliantly played. The two boys, a skinny nerd and his heavy set sidekick, both skating on the edge of puberty, are well executed and believable. The three interacting are awesome. The reclusive frightening owner of the house sets the stage for mayhem when he is taken away to the hospital and the house is left unregulated.

The two idiot policemen who come in answer to the children’s summons are wonderful stereotypes owing much to bumbling policeman portrayed in comedy from the Keystone Cops to the present. The house’s habit of slurping up toys, children, squad cars et cetera gives the film a pace and tension that carries you along. The scary images make it unsuitable for small children. I recommend the movie. – Gary Swaty

[Editor’s note: The 14 year old who sat next to us noted that the kids were “real”. That they talked and acted like real kids instead of the movie’s usual idea of how kids behave.]