DVD & BluRay

MONSTER ISLAND Kaleidoscope, cert PG DVD £7.99

OKAY, Monster Island would really, really, like to be Monsters Inc. But, it isn’t. It’s a Mexican animation feature that tries hard to look like something from Pixar, but hasn’t got the talent and the money behind hits like Despicable Me and Shrek. However, it has proved popular with kids, who maybe aren’t looking for the ingredients that suck parents into the Pixar world, and they’re quite happy with a story about a bullied boy who shocks everyone (including himself) when like the Incredible Hulk he turns into a savage(ish) beast. After losing his cool when he’s humiliated at a school party, 13-yearold Lucas (the voice of Phillip Vasquez) confronts his dad about the growl in his genes and discovers his daily puff on an inhaler isn’t for asthma, it’s what keeps him looking human. Anxious to know more about his roots, Lucas heads off on a big adventure to see his family’s home on Monster Island, a place positively crawling with spooky beings and creepy creatures. Mind you, Lucas looks a bit of a fright himself when he turns into a Tango advert, or a big orange ogre. But, all in good fun, of course, especially the twerking frogs! If you’ve got a gang of 8-12 year olds round during the school holidays they will probably enjoy some of this monster mash. Who voices Woody in Toy Story? Entries to Alex Gordon, Monster competition by October 26.