Mater the tow truck (Larry The Cable Guy) and Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) become friends in Pixar's latest film, Cars.
Pixar has the Midas Touch. They haven't had a bomb yet. Their films have all been successful to various degrees with the critics and at the box-office. Their collection of hits is impressive.
My all time favorite so far is The Incredibles. In terms of a creative story line and top notch execution of voice and images, IMHO, that film is their best!
The two Toy Story films would come in a close second.
In my book, Cars doesn't take the checkered flag and but is in good company with the other solid Pixar films.
The visuals of Cars is terrific as always. The story is not quite as compelling and creative as Incredibles and Toy Story. It is a familiar idea: speedy city slicker car Lightning McQueen meets the small town but good hearted cars of Radiator Springs and in time he comes to appreciate them and changes his ways.
The story arc though not an unfamiliar one is carried out with sympathy with the strong voice work of Owen Wilson and Bonnie Hunt but especially by Paul Newman.
Doc Hudson (Paul Newman) shows some speed on the dirt track near Radiator Springs.
Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) and Sally (Bonnie Hunt) take a drive.
The main quibble people have had with the film is the pacing. I agree the film is a bit uneven. Certainly some contrast needs to be established between the fast pace life being missed in the rear-view mirror as we are introduced to McQueen versus the slower pace off the interstate. However, it was a bit overdone and could have been tightened up but still make the point.
The main joy is the visuals (look closely at the production still I've sourced) and good humor and earnestness of the voice work.
I'll give it a thumbs up for all but the most fidgety.
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