It really, really pains me to say this but I think Pixar have made their first stumble and it couldn't have been with a more unfortunate franchise.
Cars 2 is not a worthy follow up to the original and I really have to wonder what the people at Pixar were thinking.
We pick up after Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) has won yet another Piston Cup and has returned to Radiator Springs to relax and reconnect with his friends. Mater (Larry The Cable Guy) is particularly keen to get up to no good and have some fun.
McQueen wants some of that and also to hang out with Sally at the diner. It's there that he's coaxed into participating in a world racing championship.
While all this is going on secret agent Finn McMissile (Michael Caine) has uncovered some weapons he suspects will be used to attack the races in the WDC and meets up with agent Holly Shiftwell (Emily Mortimer) at the championship launch to gather further evidence from an American spy Rod Torqueline. Yada yada yada the evidence ends up attached to Mater.
There's also a sub-plot about a clean alternative fuel which doesn't really help the overall story, depending on who they are trying to appeal to.
The main beef I have with Cars 2 is that it is far too serious. It's about spies and plots to blow up race cars and there's far too much of Mater taking centre stage. If you look at Cars it's a simple, whimsical story that's fun and entertaining and accessible to all ages.
Cars 2 is none of those things. It's a complex story and I don't see how kids will follow it, though they will enjoy the animation which is top notch.
It wasn't a terrible movie, it certainly had some fun moments and as mentioned it was very well drawn and scored. But it's not a great movie either, nowhere near the standard I come to expect from Pixar and I really hope they do a Cars 3 to right this wrong.
A 6.5 out of 10, by far the lowest a Pixar movie (which tends to get 8s minimum) has scored.
Cars 2 is not a worthy follow up to the original and I really have to wonder what the people at Pixar were thinking.
We pick up after Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) has won yet another Piston Cup and has returned to Radiator Springs to relax and reconnect with his friends. Mater (Larry The Cable Guy) is particularly keen to get up to no good and have some fun.
McQueen wants some of that and also to hang out with Sally at the diner. It's there that he's coaxed into participating in a world racing championship.
While all this is going on secret agent Finn McMissile (Michael Caine) has uncovered some weapons he suspects will be used to attack the races in the WDC and meets up with agent Holly Shiftwell (Emily Mortimer) at the championship launch to gather further evidence from an American spy Rod Torqueline. Yada yada yada the evidence ends up attached to Mater.
There's also a sub-plot about a clean alternative fuel which doesn't really help the overall story, depending on who they are trying to appeal to.
The main beef I have with Cars 2 is that it is far too serious. It's about spies and plots to blow up race cars and there's far too much of Mater taking centre stage. If you look at Cars it's a simple, whimsical story that's fun and entertaining and accessible to all ages.
Cars 2 is none of those things. It's a complex story and I don't see how kids will follow it, though they will enjoy the animation which is top notch.
It wasn't a terrible movie, it certainly had some fun moments and as mentioned it was very well drawn and scored. But it's not a great movie either, nowhere near the standard I come to expect from Pixar and I really hope they do a Cars 3 to right this wrong.
A 6.5 out of 10, by far the lowest a Pixar movie (which tends to get 8s minimum) has scored.
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