Cars

Rating

Director

John Lasseter

Screenplay

John Lasseter, Joe Ranft, Jorgen Klubien, Dan Fogelman, Kiel Murray, Phil Lorin

Length

116 min.

Starring

Owen Wilson, Paul Newman, Bonnie Hunt, Larry the Cable Guy, Cheech Marin, Tony Shalhoub, Guido Quaroni, Jenifer Lewis, Paul Dooley, Michael Wallis, George Carlin, Katharine Helmond, John Ratzenberger, Joe Ranft, Michael Keaton, Richard Petty, Jeremy Piven, Bob Costas, Darrell Waltrip, Richard Kind, Edie McClurg

MPAA Rating

G

Review

What could have been a lame idea wrapped in sport-of-the-moment racing becomes instead a somewhat inspirational look at the decline of the small American town in Pixar’s latest computer animated feature Cars.

Disney, prior to purchasing Pixar had the tendency to make great animated films every 30 years or so. Then, once they became wildly popular, they increased production on lesser storylines and became burdened with low-quality concepts that bombed at the box office. When the first preview for Cars came around, that’s the first thing that popped into my head. Pixar’s on a Disney trajectory. However, sitting down to watch the film, you’re reminded of how innovative Pixar can be.

The story starts off dangerously close to irritation as rookie racecar Lightning McQueen (voiced by Owen Wilson)runs for the Piston Cup against famed winner The King (Richard Petty) and sleazy racer Chick Hicks (Michael Keaton). When the three tie for the win, they must race across country to get cozy with the sponsors first.

McQueen, a little too cocky for his own good, gets stuck in Radiator Springs, a small Route 66 town left virtually abandoned by multi-lane highway expansion. It’s a typical story that’s found telling in many forms but somehow Cars manages to make it seem fresh. While performing community service for the road he destroyed upon arrival, McQueen learns a great deal about the inhabitants of the town and, as is expected, eventually comes to love and respect them.

The previews capitalized more on the racing aspect than on the storyline, thus creating an expectation that this is what the film would be about. There are plenty of racing scenes and perhaps, it’s one of the reasons the film runs longer than most animated films do(nearly two hours). However, the tale it weaves in that time is inspirational and if it doesn’t make you want to take a tour of Route 66, then what would?

The voice cast is well-trained and entertaining with more voices remaining unrecognizable than in past animated vehicles. Newman’s gruff, but somewhat loveable Doc Hudson may not be his last film role but it seems perfect for the NASCAR fan. Bonnie Hunt is, as always, wonderful as McQueen’s romantic interest Sally Carrera. Even Wilson provides a polished performance.

It could be easy to carp on the length of the film. Children have short attention spans as it is; however, this may be the first kids movie that has parents, or more likely grandparents, wanting to bring their offspring to the Cineplex.

Don’t let it’s title fool you. Cars is every bit about those insufferable yet inescapable hunks of junk in our daily lives. We may have a love-hate relationship with our transportation but not likely with this film.

Review Written

July 21, 2006