Monster High- Season 2

8/10

Continues to follow the exploits of Clawdeen Wolf (voiced by Gabrielle Nevaeh), Frankie Stein (the West Side Story remake's Iris Menas), Draculaura (Courtney Lin) and the other monsters at Monster High. Also, Clawdeen has to deal with being the new Were Ruler.

MH continues to do a solid job of being both entertaining and teaching kids lessons. I also admire this as one of the more progressive shows out there. Characters are still fun, and they do a surprisingly decent job of giving a large cast (due to this being made to sell all the toys) distinct personalities (mostly, I don't think the writers really decided on how to write the ghost Spectra (Valeria Rodriguez)). 

Ongoing plot isn't as strong as the last season, which was kind of impressive in that it had more going on than you'd expect, however the storyline ain't half bad.

Animation is still nice: colorful with distinct character and building design. For a computer animated show, they manage to include more background characters than some others do; really makes Monster High feel populated.

Recommended for kids. Doesn't have strong grown-up crossover (though, I think many will appreciate how modern some of the lessons are). I think kids, particularly the main demographic of young girls, will like this.

Monster High 2

6/10

In this made-for-TV Nickelodeon sequel, Draculaura's future practicing witchcraft is threatened when witches attack Monster High. Plus, Clawdeen's attempts to make the monster world more progressive is threatened by returning student Toralei Stripes (played by Salena Qureshi).

First film was stronger. I miss a bit of the humor from that one. The main villain pales in terms of personality and motivation in comparison to the last movie's one. MH2 is all about the three main leads trying to stop the war between vampires and witches. They talk a lot about the reasons why to be sympathetic with witches, but we don't get to see enough benevolent witches, so it's hard to see how peace can be achieved when the understanding is one-sided.

That all having been said, I do credit the writers for putting effort into the plot. This could've been complete fluff and general Nickelodeon hijinks but the movie has a clear message about getting along and diversity. Thought was given into the whole history of the witch/vampire war and the whole affair does feel like a genuine threat to monster kind.

Songs, except for one that pits Clawdeen Wolf (Mila Harris) against Torali, aren't very memorable, but I wouldn't say any are bad either.

Sorta recommended. Not the greatest children's movie ever made but decent, and kids will probably like it.

Monster High the Movie

6/10

(Not my demographic but my curiosity gets the best of me.) In this new movie on Nickelodeon and Paramount+ inspired by the popular doll line, half-werewolf/half-human  Clawdeen Wolf (played by Miia Harris; not a typo, there's two i's), who has to hide in the human world, is invited to attend Monster High, but must keep her human side secret or face expulsion.

This is your typical just-okay kids film. Also, a typical Nick channel film in that it's not quite a Disney Channel film. (I know the Disney movies aren't high cinema but there is always that little bit of budget and promising young acting talent that can be found in them.) All the background monster characters are just actors in very basic-looking bright color makeup. The story relies a little too heavily on the Clawdeen and her roommate Draculaura's personal crises. As a children's film this could've tried to have a little more fun and and take itself less seriously. The adult monsters' prejudice and overbearingness is laid on pretty thick. Though, I do give the filmmakers credit for not going the basic children's film route and adding a tinge of darkness to it. The ending wraps things up a little too quickly and neatly.

The movie does have it's fun points. There are a few good jokes in this that did more with the element of the macabre than expected for Nickelodeon. The most entertaining part is the smart but socially awkward, on account of being created fifteen days ago, Frankie Stein (Ceci Balagot). Their lines always sparkle.

Balagot really stands out as the best actress in a sea of actors that are decent but don't shine. Kyle Selig has his moments as one of their teachers. On the other hand, the guy who plays Clawdeen's dad delivers the only truly weak performance in this.

There are songs in this; they're are alright. Not bad but not memorable either.

I know I listed a bunch of cons about this, but it is a perfectly serviceable film for your children. Nor is it something that will aggravate if they rewatch it multiple times.