Summary (from the studio): Star racecar Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) and the incomparable tow truck Mater (Larry the Cable Guy) take their friendship on the road from Radiator Springs to exciting new places when they head overseas to compete in the first-ever World Grand Prix to determine the world’s fastest car. But the road to the championship is filled with plenty of potholes, detours and hilarious surprises when Mater gets caught up in an intriguing adventure of his own: international espionage.
Torn between assisting Lightning McQueen in the high-profile race and towing the line in a top-secret spy mission, Mater’s action-packed journey leads him on an explosive chase through the streets of Japan and Europe, trailed by his friends and watched by the whole world. Adding to the fast-paced fun is a colorful new all-car cast that includes secret agents, menacing villains and international racing competitors.
Warning: Spoilers below!
Liked:
- As with all Pixar films, Cars 2 was a treat to look at. The brilliant colors and attention to background detail in every scene won’t go unnoticed — even if you’re not specifically looking for stuff like that.
- I usually don’t like Owen Wilson, but I think he’s a good Lightning McQueen. The movie just felt different whenever that car was front and center.
- There were some funny parts scattered throughout. This was definitely enjoyable in places.
Disliked:
- The storyline felt incredibly disjointed to me. Why would anyone think it was a good idea to introduce an espionage angle into a movie like this??? This should have been about racing, not an international spy ring!
- Mater is a good secondary character, but it doesn’t work when he becomes the focus of the film. I wish he had just remained the sidekick here.
- I didn’t really care who the spies were and didn’t fully understand what they were trying to do. Did I miss something or was the only explanation of the nefarious plan given at the very end of the film after the traitorous Sir Miles Axelrod had been unmasked? In order to become invested in the plot, shouldn’t the audience be given a better understanding of what was going on?
- This was a bit too long for a kids’ movie. My 9-year-old had trouble sitting through the whole thing (and no, he doesn’t have ADD or anything like that!).
Rating:
I’ve never watched a truly bad Pixar film, and I don’t think Cars 2 changes that. It certainly wasn’t as good as other titles in the studio’s history, but it was watchable. If the filmmakers had stuck with Lightning McQueen as the main character instead of switching to Mater, I think the story would have been much better. As it is, it’s still fairly enjoyable for adults and children alike, so I give it 3 stars out of 5.