Therapist Reacts to MONSTERS, INC.

How do friendships evolve as people change?

Licensed therapist Jonathan Decker and filmmaker Alan Seawright are taking a look at Monsters, Inc. and talking about growth, change, and friendship. They talk about the dynamics of Mike and Sulley’s relationship and what threatens it. Jonathan talks about the power of perspective taking, especially through a child’s eyes. And they reflect on the lovability of Pixar characters and storytelling. Kitty!

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Cinema Therapy is:
Written by: Megan Seawright, Jonathan Decker, and Alan Seawright
Produced by: Jonathan Decker, Megan Seawright, Alan Seawright, and Corinne Demyanovich
Edited by: Nathan Judd
Director of Photography: Bradley Olsen
English Transcription by: Anna Preis
Storyboards by: Betsey Roundy

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[jimmyfitzsimmons]

I think it’s kinda hilarious how Boo calls Sully “kitty” the whole time and Mike Wizowski, is full government name the entire movie 😂

[megellen]

Reasons I watch Cinema Therapy:
30% - the amazing messaging that can be drawn from movies
20% - the amazing analysis of movies
50% - watching middle aged men lose their minds over iconic childhood favorites

[andgabby]

“I don’t believe it… I’m in a YouTube video!!!”
-Mike Wazowski (probably)

[trinaq]

Mary Gibbs, daughter of late storyboard artist Rob Gibbs, voiced Boo when she was only three years old. Because she was too young to sit in a recording booth, they simply followed her around the studio with a microphone, and recorded the things she said, adding to the authencity. She has a YouTube channel, Boo Grown Up, where she recounts growing up as the voice of Boo.

[IvanKNIGHTFROGSROCK]

You know what's something else I have noticed? And i didn't notice until you guys brought it up about Sully always bailing Mike out. Mike never takes advantage of Sully for it. He thanks Sully for the reservations and he doesn't think to go to Sully for his paperwork, Sully genuinely butts in to help and Mike doesn't abuse that. He's genuinely grateful for his friend and I think that's a testament to eachother's friendship.

[zachpayne]

No mention of Mike's major act of love and support for sully by putting in the long hours to rebuild boo's door and cutting up his hands in the process?? That reveal makes me cry every time.

[lesliegimps]

My dad passed away when I was seven years old and this was his favorite movie. Every year I would watch this movie on his birthday. Today is his birthday. It’s also my last day at college and I graduate this weekend, following in his steps of being a teacher. It means the world to me that this is the video that y’all released today. Feels like a sign that my dad is proud of me for everything I accomplished.

[SquirrelGirl]

I will say, it's not that Mike doesn't know HOW to file paperwork - it's that he doesn't remember to do it in that ADHD way. It's clear he knows, given his recitation to Sully, *exactly* where everything goes and exactly what to do. It's the doing where the train derails. Which is *very* ADHD in my lived experience.

[ohnoitswynne]

babe wake up a new cinema therapy pixar episode just dropped

[starscreamthecruel]

The blooper reel for this movie is hilarious. When they are saying goodbye to Boo, Mike says: Go Throw Up, instead of Grow Up.

[PUNK]

This movie came out the same year I was born, and my mom started calling me, boo because I looked like the little girl in the movie. ❤

[redlox]

12:57 I love this shot. Sully really never saw it how the children (technically victim) must see him and all monsters when “they were just doing their job”.

[anitakay]

The part where Sully scares Boo breaks my heart every time. That poor wee girl. Always makes me cry.
I did this to my daughter a few months ago. We had a newborn baby, and we were exhausted. My little girl just wanted my attention and I snapped at her. All she wanted was to show me a picture she drew of her and me, and I hurt her.

[BatAmerica]

I love how understated Mike's care is for Sully. He says "I care about you" from his actions while Sully says it with gestures and words. It's a great lesson for kids that people demonstrate love in unique ways.

[BigBastion]

One of the most underappreciated facts about this movie is the dynamic between Mike and Sully, in a genre of buddy movies saturated with the conflict of an unlikely duo becoming friends by the end, it’s great to see a movie start off with two established best friends, which not only allows the story to have better pacing, but also makes the moments where Mike & Sully conflict much more believable and emotional

[mariannaortiz]

It feels awful to watch Sully scare Boo when you're all grown up. Plus Boo's cries were heartbreaking. They were very realistic and sweet.

[cinderstar]

9:32 here mike changes from calling boo ‘it’ to ‘she’ because Sully said it first and Mike is slowly getting more attached like Sully is when he names her ‘boo’ I find that cool

[anawolfever]

Now we need a Monsters University video talking about how sometimes what you wished for it's not what you are meant to be but still you can find joy, feel wholesome and be fulfilled in other path ❤

[tressasmith]

Pixar: unknowingly (except it’s Pixar so they probably know exactly what they are doing) teaching an entire generation/world that it’s ok to feel your feelings and how to handle them.

Can’t wait to see the Monsters University episode. 😉

[Mr_Fahrenheit_]

I want to thank you, Jono for talking about the "Imaginary Conversation". I do this all the time to get negative thoughts out and I always worry that I'm doing something wrong, or strange, or going crazy. Hearing that approval from a person of professional knowledge on the matter of mental health was extremely validating. Thank you so much for that