Monster House

I rewatched this one last night with my wife and a couple friends. Just like I thought after seeing this the first time, Monster House is a fantastic adventure and trip back to the joy of 1980's cinema. The time when "family" movies didn't have to be 100% safe, politically correct, or non-threatening enough to satisfy ultra conservative parents. It's the movie of an era past when films the Goonies, or E.T., or Stand by Me, or Adventures in Babysitting were what kids watched and rewatched. Films that are a little bit scary, but exciting and fun at the same time. While I can't recommend this film for very young children, anyone seven and up should love this movie, and thankfully, parents will, too.

Undoubtedly, this will be my first pick for the DVD player every Halloween and I can't wait to introduce more people to it. It's a funny, exciting, sometimes scary adventure packed with realistic pre-teen characters right smack dab in that awkward place we all remember, between childhood and seeing yourself as a "grown-up." This was the most pure, unadulturated fun I've had at the movie theatre and on my couch so far this year and beats out Cars (by a long shot) and Over the Hedge (by a slim margin) as the best animated film of 2006. Rent it or buy it, it's up to you, but you won't be sorry for watching or rewatching this one.

The bottom line: Frequently Rewatchable