A real scream of a story, "Monster House" is delightfully scary fun. We saw the animated feature with an audience liberally sprinkled with toddlers and young kids and there were lots of giggles and laughs but not one cry of fright was heard. This surprised us but it’s clear, young (very young) moviegoers are quite sophisticated these days. Still, parents you know your own kid best.

Nebbercracker returns; he wasn’t dead after all. He tells the trio what his lifelong secret is and they all set out to right a very old wrong.

Since April it’s been a good season for movies aimed at youngsters¾ and the parents who accompany them. The animated features "Ice Age: The Meltdown," "Over the Hedge," and "Cars" have all done very well, and been good movies to boot. Then there are the live action hits that appeal to the same audiences, as well. "X-Men: Last Man Standing," "Superman Returns," and the mega-hit "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest."

"Monster House" is director Gil Kenan’s first feature. He uses motion-capture animation to give his characters life-like movement. Their body language and dialogue is contemporary and funny.