The phrase "children's movie" is enough to send some people screaming for the exits — it used to mean an entertaining, worthwhile experience that would sate viewers of all ages, but in an era of straight-to-video cash-ins and brainless fare meant to sell toys, rather than captivate kids, it's become something approaching a cinematic slur. Rare now is the film that can effortlessly transcend age groups, delivering a work that's funny, fun and free from the seemingly requisite fart jokes.

Gil Kenan's delightful throwback Monster House is one such home run, a kid's movie that doesn't traffic in pretension or talking down to its audience — this is a film very much in the vein of those now-classic Eighties films, the ones with stock characters that somehow transcend cliche and become fresh, forever lodging themselves in our collective cinematic memories.

Infused with a spunky spirit and keen sense of the supernatural, Monster House follows DJ (voiced by Mitchel Musso), his best friend Chowder (voiced by Sam Lerner) and Jenny (voiced by Spencer Locke) as they attempt to unravel the mystery of the foreboding house across the street from DJ's. The cantankerous old Mr. Nebbercracker (voiced by a wonderful Steve Buscemi) is constantly screaming at children, threatening them and confiscating any toys that land upon his lawn. After an encounter with Mr. Nebbercracker that lands him in the hospital, DJ and his friends are determined to get to the bottom of the cranky domicile with a mind (and appetite) unlike anything they've ever seen.

It's not the least bit surprising that Monster House was produced by, among others, Robert Zemeckis and Steven Spielberg; there's a freshness and innocence to this film that was once evident in the films of both men — Kenan approaches this material as though we're seeing this story told for the first time and as a result, convention is subverted and a truly magical experience unfolds. The astonishing CG animation, overseen by Sony Pictures Imageworks, is breathtaking, rendering some truly incredible moments that, to my own relief, don't sport the creepy, deadened feel of Zemeckis' own The Polar Express. Coupling this revelatory animation with his exceptional cast — which includes Maggie Gyllenhaal, Jon Heder, Kevin James, Nick Cannon, Catherine O'Hara and Fred Willard — Kenan has fashioned one of the year's true cinematic treats; it's a film that deserves to become a perennial Halloween classic. Would that more "children's movies" turn out like Monster House — that would be the sweetest surprise of them all.

The Video:

Monster House arrives on DVD sporting a flawless 2.40:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer, with gorgeous, vivid colors, razor-sharp clarity and rich, saturated blacks. This is a pristine image without a trace of defect, one which showcases Xavier Perez Grobet's evocative cinematography to fine effect.

The audio is just as spectacular as the visuals: a robust Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack is on board, highlighting sound designer Randy Thom's exquisite work in nearly every scene. Immersive, active and full-bodied, this is one terrific mix that may have some viewers ducking to avoid flying timber (and children). A French Dolby Digital 5.1 track is included, as are optional English and French subtitles.

The slipcover itself is a bonus feature here: equipped with a cardboard wheel that can be spun to show the three main characters in a variety of situations, the extra sturdy slipcover may have you grinning before you even crack open the keepcase. Kenan sits for an informative, enthusiastic commentary track, revealing inspirations and technical details throughout the film's lean run time. Also included are seven featurettes — the three minute, 30 second "Imaginary Heroes," which deals with character design; the two minute, 26 second "Beginner's Luck," which deals with casting; the two minute, 42 second "The Best of Friends," which focuses on the main trio of characters; the two minute, 30 second "Lots of Dots," which looks at performance capture; the four minute, 15 second "Black Box Theater," centered on motion capture; the six minute, four second "Making It Real," exploring the animation process and the two minute, 55 second "Did You Hear That?," taking a look at sound design — which are playable separately or together and (thankfully) provided in anamorphic widescreen. The two minute, 55 second featurette "Evolution of a Scene: Eliza vs. Nebbercracker," details exactly what it promises with multi-angle features available that cycle through the story reel animatic, performance capture, layout stage, animation, final film and composite clips. "The Art of 'Monster House'," shows the conceptual art, people and places and things with trailers for Open Season, Zoom, Spider-Man 3, RV, The Pink Panther and Are We There Yet? completing the disc.

The phrase "children's movie" is enough to send some people screaming for the exits — it used to mean an entertaining, worthwhile experience that would sate viewers of all ages, but in an era of straight-to-video cash-ins and brainless fare meant to sell toys, rather than captivate kids, it's become something approaching a cinematic slur. Would that more "children's movies" turn out like Monster House — that would be the sweetest surprise of them all. Highly recommended.