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!

==Written by Ed Goettman ==

==From: Ed's Review Dot Com (www.edsreview.com)==

There's an extra coat of hot wax on Pixar's vibrant, NASCAR-influenced comedy about a world populated entirely by cars. Lightning McQueen (voiced by Owen Wilson) is the slick rookie taking the Piston Cup series by storm when the last race of the season (the film's high-octane opening) ends in a three-way tie. On the way to the tie-breaker race in California, Lightning loses his way off Route 66 in the Southwest desert and is taught to stop and smell the roses by the forgotten citizens of Radiator Springs. It's odd to have such a slim story from the whizzes of Pixar, and the film pales a bit from their other films (though can that be a fair comparison?). Nonetheless, Cars is another gleaming ride with Pixar founder John Lasseter, who's directing for the first time since Toy Story 2. There's the usual spectrum of excellent characters teamed with appropriate voice talent, loads of smooth humor for kids and parents alike, knockout visuals, and a colorful array of sidekicks, including a scene-stealing baby blue forklift named Guido. Lightning's plight is changed with the help of former big-city lawyer Sally Carrera (Pixar veteran Bonnie Hunt), the town's patriarch Doc Hudson (Paul Newman), and kooky tow truck Mater (Larry the Cable Guy). The Incredibles was the first Pixar film to break the 100-minute barrier, but had enough story not to suffer; Cars, at 116 minutes (including some must-see end credit footage), is not as fortunate, plus it never pierces the heart. Trivia fans should have bonanza with the frame-by-frame DVD function; the movie is stuffed with in-jokes, some appearing only for an instant. Ages 5 and up. --Doug Thomas