Movie Review:

Cars

by Lynn B

After watching Cars, you might wonder, on the drive home, why your trusty hot-rod isn’t chatting with you.

In Cars, Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) is a hot-shot race car who thinks of nothing but winning and getting a coveted sponsorship on the track. He’s on the way to L.A. for the Piston Cup, a huge race that will make or break him but he gets sidetracked to the sleepy, by-passed town of Radiator Springs, a once hoppin’ haven on old Route 66, now barely there since the interstate was built.

Caught speeding through the sleepy burg, Lightning is sentenced to community service re-paving a road by crusty old Judge and town doc Doc Hudson (Paul Newman). While in town, Lightning is befriended by Tow Mater (Larry the Cable Guy), a rusty, trusty tow truck and falls for pretty Porsche Sally Carrera (Bonnie Hunt), a former fast-lane L.A. lawyer. There are other friendly locals, Fillmore, a flower-painted 1960’s VW van (George Carlin), Ramone (Cheech Marin), a hot low-rider, etc.

With the help of his new friends, Lightning learns to curb that need for speed and appreciate life in a slower lane.

Disney/Pixar has impressed again. Cars is cutting edge in every frame. There are actual reflections in the car hoods and the studio has taken its decision to make a totally non-human film to the max… even tiny flies are teeny Volkswagens… with wings. The computer artists have done a fabulous job copying Nascar racing in every detail on and around the track. There are fun “tribute” cars to racing legends and even a Jay Leno car and an Arnold Schwarzenegger humvee! When cars sit (uh park) to watch a movie, it’s “Toy Story” and “Monsters Inc.” but the characters are cars. You’ll enjoy a little fleet of “Fast and Furious”-style flashy street cars who, of course, make trouble for our hero.

All voice actors do a wonderful job of representing the personalities of their individual cars. Paul Newman’s voice is perfect for the once hot-shot, now retired and bitter “Doc”. Bonnie Hunt’s voice is perky and sexy as Sally and Owen Wilson can do cocky like nobody else as Lightning. But, the real laugh riot of the film is tow truck Tow Mater, perfectly, good-ole-boy-voiced by Larry the Cable Guy.

Music, from new takes on old, classic tunes to brand new road anthems, is a lot of fun. Of course, these films always come with a life lesson. Here it’s multiple; sometimes it’s not winning but how you play the game, stop and smell the roses.. sometimes older is better and sometimes our elders do have something cool to teach us. The story focuses on a small town, by-passed by “progress” and the characters found here are pure Americana; a hodge-podge of nationalities, lifestyles.. makes and models. My only criticism would be that there is a little “stall” in the film’s mid-section.. maybe we spend a little too long in Radiator Springs but what we see there is so clever and eye-popping that we might not care.

Overall, you’ll get your kicks on Route 66 in this warm and fuzzy, good-hearted film. No stone is left unturned and no tire unchanged by the animation wizards at Pixar. You’ll be in your seat a little longer than usual for an animated film but, overall, it’s worth the ride… and the “sit”. Oh, and stick around through the credits for more cute animated action!

 

This movie is rated G

Official Movie Web Site - CARS

Pictures courtesy of and copyright Disney/Pixar, 2006