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impyDid I start a free trial of Paramount Plus just to watch the new Monster High movie? Yes. Yes I did. But only because I think asking Cass for her info right now would be rude.
First things first:
Why did no one tell me Steve Valentine was playing Dracula?!?!
Ahem. He alone was worth the price of admission, FYI.
While we're talking Dracula, I like that he was tinged pink too, and that wasn't just Draculaura. It was a cute touch.
Overall, I thought it was cute. If you divorce it entirely from what came before, it's a fine intro to Monster High. Considering how many iterations MH BEGAN with, it's not like a new spin is the worst thing in the world. That being said, I did have to remind myself of that kind of a lot.
Let's start with the bad and maybe the eh and work out way to the good, shall we?
Making Clawdeen have a thing for Deuce was a choice and maybe I just got used to Clawdeen not being super into anyone. They were cute though, so there was chemistry, particularly during their duet.
Monster High being aggressively anti-human was also a choice. Like... the fuck, man? I know there's always been a human vs monster thing at play in this franchise but this one kicked it up to an intolerant level and I could not turn off the part of my brain that kept trying to introduce the old MH to the new one.
Draculaura being standoffish as opposed to bubbly and sweet. Her very clear line about the dorm room having sides and not to cross hers was so anti-Draculaura it hurt.
Ghoulia's maniacal laugh when Clawdeen asks for help with her dorm room was um... well. It certainly happened, didn't it?
Lagoona. What the hell? She looked pretty cute (aside from that one scene) and then she got to do absolutely nothing and also apparently had no brain whatsoever. Lagoona was always very good at reading people and being smart enough to not feed into BS unless it involved Gil so no. I'm not buying this version of her. Which is a fucking shame because I was ready for them to do anything with her. Abbey, who clearly looked like a background character (while Lagoona looked like they spent a little more on her costume/look) got more screentime and more of a freakin' personality.
Heath does not translate to live action well. At all. o_O
This is the part where I point out to anyone who stumbled here by accident that we're not here to mock the actors/actresses, particularly the younger ones because they all did a good job.
There clearly wasn't really a budget for the backgrounders and it showed. A lot. Oof.
I know there were time constraints, as it's a movie and all, but the big rush to save the main trio felt, well, rushed. Cleo and Lagoona sort of made sense since they're a package duo and Cleo did get screen time. Deuce made sense, and I'll buy that he grabbed Heath but Abbey and Ghoulia were clearly there only because they're the only other kid characters we know. It was...weird. You can't rely on the knowledge of the previous iterations while still changing that much. It just... doesn't work.
Was Cleo trying to hit on her teacher? o_O
The Hyde thing was obvious and also very weirdly done. I feel bad for Holt and Jackson getting scuttled for uh...that.
It's interesting that this time around we got to focus a little on Clawdeen's father as he didn't seem to exist in the last reboot.
And now... the good to great.
I really liked the main trio. Yes, their friendship (well, with Draculaura anyway) was also rushed, but extraordinary circumstances, right? You bought them as friends and you'd want to be their friend, too.
The main trio, plus Cleo, Lagoona, and Deuce actually looked a lot better than I expected them to look given literally every other piece of teaser/trailer/promo they'd put out. So either I lowered my expectations just enough or, y'know, an effort was truly made in parts.
I was worried they'd make Clawdeen a weaker version of herself but they didn't. She was just self conscious about one part of herself but seemed pretty together about the rest. She didn't stress a ton about making friends, didn't back down from Cleo, and when push came to shove, she tried to do the right thing.
Draculaura might not have felt like the Draculaura I've come to know, but she still worked as a character. I didn't mind her witchcraft and wound up thinking it worked surprisingly well (not sure I'm convinced it could carry a second movie but I'm willing to give it another shot) and clearly effort was put into her wardrobe and character. Her standing up to Cleo was a nice touch.
Frankie was my absolute fave. They are absolutely adorable and charming and I love them. LOVE. THEM. I will fight anyone who says otherwise.
I'm not even sure I have blood. is a wonderful response to a threat, Frankie. The wanting to make one itty bitty explosion in the super secret lab? Adorable. Their absolute delight in everything? Yes, please. Sure, there's no fucking way they didn't know what a high five was (considering their knowledge of all the things) but the joke was cute enough that I'll let it go.
The end credits and all the behind the scenes stuff was very cute. Especially everyone saying Draculaura. ♥
Seriously though. Lagoona was robbed, Frankie was fabulous, and Steve Valentine as Dracula was perfection.
First things first:
Why did no one tell me Steve Valentine was playing Dracula?!?!
Ahem. He alone was worth the price of admission, FYI.
While we're talking Dracula, I like that he was tinged pink too, and that wasn't just Draculaura. It was a cute touch.
Overall, I thought it was cute. If you divorce it entirely from what came before, it's a fine intro to Monster High. Considering how many iterations MH BEGAN with, it's not like a new spin is the worst thing in the world. That being said, I did have to remind myself of that kind of a lot.
Let's start with the bad and maybe the eh and work out way to the good, shall we?
Making Clawdeen have a thing for Deuce was a choice and maybe I just got used to Clawdeen not being super into anyone. They were cute though, so there was chemistry, particularly during their duet.
Monster High being aggressively anti-human was also a choice. Like... the fuck, man? I know there's always been a human vs monster thing at play in this franchise but this one kicked it up to an intolerant level and I could not turn off the part of my brain that kept trying to introduce the old MH to the new one.
Draculaura being standoffish as opposed to bubbly and sweet. Her very clear line about the dorm room having sides and not to cross hers was so anti-Draculaura it hurt.
Ghoulia's maniacal laugh when Clawdeen asks for help with her dorm room was um... well. It certainly happened, didn't it?
Lagoona. What the hell? She looked pretty cute (aside from that one scene) and then she got to do absolutely nothing and also apparently had no brain whatsoever. Lagoona was always very good at reading people and being smart enough to not feed into BS unless it involved Gil so no. I'm not buying this version of her. Which is a fucking shame because I was ready for them to do anything with her. Abbey, who clearly looked like a background character (while Lagoona looked like they spent a little more on her costume/look) got more screentime and more of a freakin' personality.
Heath does not translate to live action well. At all. o_O
This is the part where I point out to anyone who stumbled here by accident that we're not here to mock the actors/actresses, particularly the younger ones because they all did a good job.
There clearly wasn't really a budget for the backgrounders and it showed. A lot. Oof.
I know there were time constraints, as it's a movie and all, but the big rush to save the main trio felt, well, rushed. Cleo and Lagoona sort of made sense since they're a package duo and Cleo did get screen time. Deuce made sense, and I'll buy that he grabbed Heath but Abbey and Ghoulia were clearly there only because they're the only other kid characters we know. It was...weird. You can't rely on the knowledge of the previous iterations while still changing that much. It just... doesn't work.
Was Cleo trying to hit on her teacher? o_O
The Hyde thing was obvious and also very weirdly done. I feel bad for Holt and Jackson getting scuttled for uh...that.
It's interesting that this time around we got to focus a little on Clawdeen's father as he didn't seem to exist in the last reboot.
And now... the good to great.
I really liked the main trio. Yes, their friendship (well, with Draculaura anyway) was also rushed, but extraordinary circumstances, right? You bought them as friends and you'd want to be their friend, too.
The main trio, plus Cleo, Lagoona, and Deuce actually looked a lot better than I expected them to look given literally every other piece of teaser/trailer/promo they'd put out. So either I lowered my expectations just enough or, y'know, an effort was truly made in parts.
I was worried they'd make Clawdeen a weaker version of herself but they didn't. She was just self conscious about one part of herself but seemed pretty together about the rest. She didn't stress a ton about making friends, didn't back down from Cleo, and when push came to shove, she tried to do the right thing.
Draculaura might not have felt like the Draculaura I've come to know, but she still worked as a character. I didn't mind her witchcraft and wound up thinking it worked surprisingly well (not sure I'm convinced it could carry a second movie but I'm willing to give it another shot) and clearly effort was put into her wardrobe and character. Her standing up to Cleo was a nice touch.
Frankie was my absolute fave. They are absolutely adorable and charming and I love them. LOVE. THEM. I will fight anyone who says otherwise.
I'm not even sure I have blood. is a wonderful response to a threat, Frankie. The wanting to make one itty bitty explosion in the super secret lab? Adorable. Their absolute delight in everything? Yes, please. Sure, there's no fucking way they didn't know what a high five was (considering their knowledge of all the things) but the joke was cute enough that I'll let it go.
The end credits and all the behind the scenes stuff was very cute. Especially everyone saying Draculaura. ♥
Seriously though. Lagoona was robbed, Frankie was fabulous, and Steve Valentine as Dracula was perfection.