Walt Disney Pictures, Pixar Animation Studios

Owen Wilson, Larry the Cable Guy, Michael Caine, Emily Mortimer, Eddie Izzard, John Turturro, Brent Musburger, Joe Mantegna, Thomas Kretschmann, Peter Jacobson, Bonnie Hunt, Cheech Marin

Cars 2 is, of course, the sequel to Pixar’s Car Story (2006). The same characters are back with a few more. Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) has left Radiator Springs behind and become a world famous race car leaving Tow Mater (Larry the Cable Guy) behind to tell stories of his friend’s adventures. Now, to promote a new green fuel, McQueen has been invited to participate in a World Grand Prix in different countries including Tokyo and London, among other places. McQueen wants Mater to come along to be part of his pit crew. But as much as the backdrop is racing, the real story is a spy adventure. Someone is out to kill the racers in the attempt to disgrace the renewable fuel that is the sponsor, and since McQueen decides to stay in the race, he must be killed as well. Mater is mistaken as a spy, and given credit for acting stupid as a disguise when they really don’t know he’s just being Mater.

I can certainly understand why Disney/Pixar made this film. Disneyland is opening Radiator Springs next year at the new Carsland in Disney’s California Adventure, and with all these popular characters, how could they not make a sequel. Additionally they wanted to make it really different and not rip off the same story as the first one, but to keep the characters and the feel, but bring it in a whole new directions. But I feel they made some mistakes, and I feel some of the criticism is valid. First, it doesn’t go in a new direction, it goes to Spy Kids, Cars Edition. Secondly, the number one demographic for this film is little boys who love Mater and McQueen and buy lots of happy meals. My 3 year old Grandson is a huge Cars fan, and wanted to bring his toy Lightning McQueen with him to the theater. But it’s hard for a 3 year old to follow the complicated and very adult storyline of murder, betrayal, greed, and all kinds of other evil that this movie is full of. I don’t think 3 year olds enjoy seeing attempts to kill Mater and McQueen. That’s not excitement, that’s scary. Also Disney has come out against the criticism of the cars in a bar drinking cocktails by saying it’s clearly oil, but it is in martini glasses with bubbles and it sure looks like cars drinking to me. I am not sure about the G rating with all the violence, crime, and downright evil in this film. So I can understand the purists who don’t like the dark place this movie took us. I think that was really unexpected, and it turned off a lot of people.

Still, I loved it. I saw it with NINE grandchildren. We filled up the entire row of the theater from side to side filling every seat. We all had a great time, and loved seeing our friends again. I just wish they had taken a bit more time to tweak the story without so much “Spy Kids” and more “Cars”. Should you take you kids to see it? Well, I guess so, as they are going to be happy to see their friends again. But be expected to provide answers to questions like “Why are they drinking alcohol” and “Why do the bad cars want to kill Lightning McQueen”, as they are bound to pop up. Thanks Pixar for bringing Cars back home to visit us again, but next time, give a bit more thought the age appropriateness of the fans, and tone it down a little.

Also the Toy Story cartoon at the beginning of the movie was excellent. I hope it will be on the DVD as well. Enjoy!

EdG – EdsReview Dot Com – A Movie Review Blog

 

 

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Movie Review - Cars 2 (2011) {G}, 3.0 out of 5 based on 1 rating

1 Comment so far »

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    Ed's Review Dot Com » This Week on DVD – 11/1/2011 said

    November 1 2011 @ 11:05 am

    […] Cars2 [Click here for Eds Review] […]

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