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Race car Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson), left, joins tow truck Mater (Larry the Cable Guy) and spy car Finn McMissile in the action-packed “Cars 2.” |
Pixar’s computer-animated sequel “Cars 2” races through record numbers of visual and verbal gags, and they fly by at such speed that multiple viewings may be required just to absorb them, let alone appreciate them.
That being noted, “Cars 2” represents another slight disappointment from Pixar, whose 2006 release “Cars” still ranks as the least impressive addition to the Pixar canon of excellent animated motion pictures.
“Cars” the sequel may be faster, noisier and funnier than the original, but it can’t touch Pixar’s “Ratatouille,” “WALL-E,” “Up” or “Toy Story 3” for the character development, clever plotting and animated innovation we’ve come to expect from Pixar.
If anything, “Cars 2” takes the low road by relying on lots of guns, bullets, explosions and car chases (as opposed to races) to fuel its narrative.
Back in Radiator Springs, exhausted race car hero Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) wants to take a pit stop and spend some idling time with his fiance Sally (Bonnie Hunt) and tow truck pal Mater (Larry the Cable Guy).
Then a cocky Italian racer named Francesco Bernoulli (John Turturro) challenges McQueen by virtually insulting the size of his engine.
So, McQueen agrees to meet Bernoulli in the World Grand Prix, a trilogy of races sponsored by Miles Axelrod (Eddie Izzard), an oil tycoon with plans to have the cars use his new green fuel that will revolutionize the world.
But there’s a fly wheel in the ointment. (Read more…)