The Latest From Pixar

Cars (4/5 stars)

This was a nice little movie. Entertaining and funny thoughout, and some heart and real wit too, which seems to be lacking from most of the purely slapstick based animated comedies that are coming out these days.

The story is simple. A car named Lightning McQueen (voiced by Owen Wilson) is competing in what must be the be-all-end-all car race in the movie's universe, the Piston Cup. He is a rookie and attempting to be the first one to ever win. He is arrogant, selfish, and doesn't think he needs any help from anyone. During the race his foolishness leads him to blow a sure win, and this eventually leads to a three-way tie between him, the kind-hearted reigning champion, and the mean-spirited perennial runner-up. A tie-breaker race is scheduled in a week's time far away in California. The movie really begins here, as Lightning needs to travel to California for the race. On the way he gets waylayed, and ends up in a run-down deserted town called Radiator Springs on Route 66 where he meets a cast of wacky, interesting, and endearing characters. For reasons I won't explain here he must stay in the town for awhile before continuing on to the race. It is here that he learns a little about what is really important and becomes better for it.

While I enjoyed the movie as I said, what I wonder is whether this is really more of a movie for adults than kids. The fact that the protagonists are all, well, cars, doesn't exactly lend itself to the slapstick and other goofy visual humor that I think kids enjoy more out of this sort of thing. Most of the best stuff was in the jokes the little ones wouldn't even get, I think. There is, however, a nice little short that plays before the movie that is exactly what kids would like. I only wish that this sort of thing was done with more movies. It is certainly a lot more interesting than watching 10 minutes of commercials.

This is definitely better than Over the Hedge was, and if you're into animated movies at all, I fully recommend it.