‘Cars’ fun, but runs out of gas early
Cars
Screenplay written by: Robert L. Baird, Dan Fogelman, Dan
Gerson,Joergen Klubien, Joe Ranft
Actors: Owen Wilson, Bonnie Hunt, Paul Newman, Larry The Cable
Guy, Cheech Martin, George Carlin, John Ratzenberger
Directed by: John Lasseter
Rated: G
‘Cars’ fun, but runs out of gas early
Cars
Screenplay written by: Robert L. Baird, Dan Fogelman, Dan Gerson,Joergen Klubien, Joe Ranft
Actors: Owen Wilson, Bonnie Hunt, Paul Newman, Larry The Cable Guy, Cheech Martin, George Carlin, John Ratzenberger
Directed by: John Lasseter
Rated: G
In the animated world of talking cars, Lightning McQueen (voiced by Owen Wilson) is the golden boy of the racecar circuit, driven to pursue all the rewards he thinks are important and that will come with his fame and glory for being first over finish lines. But his long trip to accomplish his goal by winning the Piston Cup Championship in California is detoured along Route 66 in the has-been town of “Radiator Springs.” It’s there that he meets an array of locals including Sally (Bonnie Hunt), the 2002 Porsche, Doc Hudson (Paul Newman), the 1951 Hudson Hornet, and Mater (Larry The Cable Guy), a rusty old tow truck. By being forced to stay, Lightning comes to understand that going after the much-touted life in the fast lane may not be the most fulfilling route for the journey of life and that the journey is more important than the finish.
He Said:
How long could Pixar keep one one-upping itself? While entertaining and full of themes valuing the simpler things that should not be taken for granted in this fast world, (such as classic old cars, humble little towns, and friendship and loyalty) “Cars” will have to settle for being just a really good family film, as opposed to an extraordinary one. I liked the way the tale paid homage to the wisdom of age and experience in Paul Newman’s voice of racecar legend, Doc Hudson, as well as the notion that everyone is important in their uniqueness, as voiced by Larry The Cable Guy in the character of Mater. It was good family entertainment and yet had plenty of potential as a fun date movie with parallels to modern culture that had nearly everyone laughing even if cars aren’t the easiest animation “vehicles” for human emotions.
On the R&R Scale (1-10)
7 for Script: Witty, and full of timeless messages of wisdom.
7 for Direction: John Lasseter, of Toy Story & A Bugs Life put his humanistic touch on this one.
7 for Acting: Owen Wilson and Bonnie Hunt were especially good.
6 for Plot: Simple.
7 for Entertainment value for an animated G film.
6.8 Overall
She Said:
While no “Toy Story” in script or voices, Pixar and Buena Vista (read: Disney) did bring us a very fun ride with a lot of humor especially well-suited to America’s car culture and our love of technologically innovative films that have imagination, heart, and ironic humor. Did everyone catch the Emeryville sign whizzing by Lightning McQueen announcing that he had just passed our own Bay Area town where George Lucas had the vision to nurture a “Special Efforts Computer Group” that morphed via accusation into Steve Jobs’ Pixar Animation Studios? This film was good ol’ family entertainment that has something for every age, from the young ones to the teens, including a few 60s era jibes that had the audience in stitches.
On the R&R Scale (1-10)
7 for Script: The witty comments and parallels made up for a possibly more layered script, e.g. The Incredibles.
7 for Direction: A savvy combination of film animation technology and humor that was also a pleasure visually.
7 for Acting: Paul Newman, sadly, was flat, compared to the others.
7 for Plot: Not much there, but the most was done with it.
7 for Entertainment value: For family entertainment.
7.0 Overall
