MESSAGE IN THE MOVIES

Cars 2   Rated G

Directed by John Lasseter and Brad Lewis. Animated Feature

Photo © Walt Disney Pictures/PIXAR
Movie Review by Rev. Bruce Batchelor Glader

 Five years ago Pixar Animation released Cars, which was probably the most laidback and nostalgic film ever made for children (and what do kid have to be nostalgic about, anyway?)  It told the story of Lightning McQueen (voiced by Owen Wilson), a cocky racecar who lived solely to come out on top.  When he gets stranded at Radiator Springs, a small town out west, he learns to slow down and appreciate the simple things of life, including friendship with Mater (Larry the Cable Guy), a tow truck filled with basic goodness.  Cars was a charming movie, with plenty of in-jokes about automobiles for car lovers.

Now here’s Cars 2, in which Lightning McQueen (accompanied by Mater) enters a World Grand Prix race that will take place in capitol cities.  It’s sponsored by Sir Miles Axelrod (Eddie Izzard), a British promoter of an alternative fuel called Allinol.  Some spy cars from Great Britain (voiced by Michael Caine and Emily Mortimer, are along for the ride and get Mater wrapped up in international espionage.  There are also dozens of new cars to get to know.  Big Whoop.

It’s all loud, busy, confusing and occasionally boring.  The alternative world in which cars rule becomes somewhat harder to swallow when taking place in actual world locations, filled with landmark buildings.  Even the funniest concepts (such as a high tech Japanese toilet) are undone by crosscutting to simultaneous action scenes.  A domesticated Lightning McQueen is nicer, but rather boring (and underused).  And while it’s amusing to see Michael Caine return to his 60’s roots (he first became famous 45 years ago as British spy Harry Palmer), it’s not that much fun.

The filmmakers try to get in some political commentary about our over-dependence on fossil fuels, but by the time the film ended, I wasn’t sure which side of the debate they were on. (And it was Pixar’s preachiness in 2008’s Wall-E that was the weak link in an otherwise great film.)

I’m sure that there will be many who enjoy this movie.  The values of friendship and loyalty are still there as well as beautiful scenic vistas and amazing production design.  But this is not only the one Pixar film that I won’t care to add to my DVD library (I own all of the other titles), it’s the one Pixar film that I don’t feel the need to watch a second time.  And that’s a pity.

Note: The short cartoon that precedes Cars 2 is Hawaiian Vacation, featuring the “Toy Story” gang and it’s quite good.

Pitchfork/Halo Ratings:

Two halos: The first Pixar film that is weak in both story and character development is still occasionally entertaining.

One pitchfork: Some mild toilet humor.

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