The animated film Monsters University is hitting theaters soon and critics are already enjoying the sequel.

"A good-natured callback to the college movies of the 1980s, it's a tremendously entertaining family movie that shows Pixar hasn't lost its storytelling chops - or its ability to challenge audiences," The Verge wrote in its Tuesday review.

The movie follows the main character Mike Wazowski (Billy Crystal), who enters college. The green and nerdy character attends Monsters U where he is enrolled in the School of Scaring. His enemy in the film is James P. Sullivan (John Goodman), who has completely changed since the 2001 prequel Monsters, Inc. He is now a cool jock and the two characters are no longer friendly with one another. However, after the two monsters get kicked out of school for missing a final, they have to join forces to get back on the right track.

Some critics even enjoyed the film more than the original.

"Although 10 minutes longer than 'Monsters, Inc.,' the new film actually feels shorter due to a more cleverly elaborated story (scripted by Scanlon, Daniel Gerson and Robert L. Baird) that mercifully doesn't rely on an oppressively adorable little girl for squeals and giggles," Variety wrote in its review on June 9.

The rated G film also teaches a lesson critics believe is worth noting.

"Ultimately, the film (which is preceded by a short, The Blue Umbrella) makes a surprisingly sharp lesson on the hard truths of limited talent (giftedness remains an intriguing Pixar theme seen previously in The Incredibles and Ratatouille), but also of the great value in plucky determination," The Associated Press wrote in a June 17 review.

Other actors who lend their voices in the movie are Boardwalk Empire's Steve Buscemi, Arthur's Helen Mirren and Will & Grace's Sean Hayes.

The movie comes to U.S. theaters on June 21.

Tags: Movie Reviews