Pixar sequel a race to mediocrity
Published on Tue, Nov 1, 2011 by Bob ConnallyRead More Arts & Entertainment
"Cars 2"
(G, Avail. Now)
Picking up a few years after the first movie, racing star Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) is coming off a string of championships but still living in Radiator Springs, home of his girlfriend Sally (Bonnie Hunt) and best friend Mater (Larry the Cable Guy). Exhausted from racing and globe-trotting, Lightning wants to give himself and his crew some time off. But when Italian race car Franceso Bernoulli (John Turturro) throws down a gauntlet on live television, Mater accepts the challenge on Lightning's behalf.
A series of races in Japan, France, and England will be held to determine the fastest race car in the world. Wanting to give Mater a chance to see the world, Lightning brings him along as part of his team. Not only does Mater embarrass Lightning within moments of their arrival, he ends up (for reasons far too complicated to explain here) accidentally becoming an international spy, working with British Intelligence cars Finn McMissile (Michael Caine) and Holly Shiftwell (Emily Mortimer).
As suspected, this spy story doesn't fit the amiable world of "Cars" and thus the film's violence is actually quite shocking. Characters are killed on screen quite disturbingly and, at one point, an order to "Kill Lightning McQueen," is issued. Using Pixar's own canon as an example of how to do this sort of thing correctly, look at "The Incredibles." Yes, there were characters who died but we never met them, save the ones who made the mistake of wearing capes. That wasn't disturbing. It was just funny. Not only is it not funny here, it's just downright baffling.
The other baffling decision made by director John Lasseter is to make Mater the star. He's the best friend who works best in small doses, not top banana. For most of the movie, you wish the focus would go back to the subplot involving Lightning's races. These are the moments in which "Cars 2" has some pep and humor and this story should have been given room to breathe. There is also a worthwhile message for kids about friendship that doesn't come off heavy handed or condescending.
What is heavy handed and condescending is the film's political message involving a mysterious villain who controls "big oil." Again, one only needs look at another Pixar film, "Wall-E," to see an environmental message that doesn't beat you over the head with a baseball bat. As presented here, children will not truly grasp it and there isn't a trace of subtlety to appeal to adults.
All in all, "Cars 2" has just enough moments of humor and heart to prevent it from being a truly bad movie. But it falls far short of being a good one. Still, one subpar Pixar film out of twelve is nothing to be ashamed of, and the best often learn from their failures. I suspect that will be the case here. 5/10
(G, Avail. Now)
Picking up a few years after the first movie, racing star Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) is coming off a string of championships but still living in Radiator Springs, home of his girlfriend Sally (Bonnie Hunt) and best friend Mater (Larry the Cable Guy). Exhausted from racing and globe-trotting, Lightning wants to give himself and his crew some time off. But when Italian race car Franceso Bernoulli (John Turturro) throws down a gauntlet on live television, Mater accepts the challenge on Lightning's behalf.
A series of races in Japan, France, and England will be held to determine the fastest race car in the world. Wanting to give Mater a chance to see the world, Lightning brings him along as part of his team. Not only does Mater embarrass Lightning within moments of their arrival, he ends up (for reasons far too complicated to explain here) accidentally becoming an international spy, working with British Intelligence cars Finn McMissile (Michael Caine) and Holly Shiftwell (Emily Mortimer).
As suspected, this spy story doesn't fit the amiable world of "Cars" and thus the film's violence is actually quite shocking. Characters are killed on screen quite disturbingly and, at one point, an order to "Kill Lightning McQueen," is issued. Using Pixar's own canon as an example of how to do this sort of thing correctly, look at "The Incredibles." Yes, there were characters who died but we never met them, save the ones who made the mistake of wearing capes. That wasn't disturbing. It was just funny. Not only is it not funny here, it's just downright baffling.
The other baffling decision made by director John Lasseter is to make Mater the star. He's the best friend who works best in small doses, not top banana. For most of the movie, you wish the focus would go back to the subplot involving Lightning's races. These are the moments in which "Cars 2" has some pep and humor and this story should have been given room to breathe. There is also a worthwhile message for kids about friendship that doesn't come off heavy handed or condescending.
What is heavy handed and condescending is the film's political message involving a mysterious villain who controls "big oil." Again, one only needs look at another Pixar film, "Wall-E," to see an environmental message that doesn't beat you over the head with a baseball bat. As presented here, children will not truly grasp it and there isn't a trace of subtlety to appeal to adults.
All in all, "Cars 2" has just enough moments of humor and heart to prevent it from being a truly bad movie. But it falls far short of being a good one. Still, one subpar Pixar film out of twelve is nothing to be ashamed of, and the best often learn from their failures. I suspect that will be the case here. 5/10
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