This should have been direct to DVD...

Rating: 3/10 (30 June 2011)

I remember many years ago watching The Lion King on VHS. I was far younger then, but I could tell that there was something special about that film. Then a few years later we get The Lion King 2 and then The Lion King 1 1/2. These direct to DVD titles lacked the magic and wonder of the original film for obvious reasons; a lame retelling of the story, pushing minor characters into the spotlight, humor that just wasn't funny, and a smaller budget. Watching these DVD releases made me feel sorry for the people who worked on them.
Cars 2 should have been a direct to DVD release!
How Pixar ever let this one be released to theaters is beyond me? Cars is, by far, their most critically dismissed film. A lot of people, myself included, are not comfortable with the human-less world the Cars live in. The first one kept it simple, basing 95% of the film in a sleepy town off of the interstate, away from anything that would need to have human interaction, but this one has us globe trotting to various locations, speaking in several languages and watching cars perform a lot more human-like traits. How many American children will get the bidet joke? Or the "pistachio ice cream" bit? And what was up with the over the top violence? There were more than one torture scene in this film that were just down right nasty to have in a Pixar film. It was also a little creepy how they talk about Doc, but never try to tie up the lose end of where he is (RIP Paul Newman) during the film.
My verdict, this film has things that work: the animation is better looking than Toy Story 3, and the 3D actually works for the most part in this one.
What doesn't work is the corny one liners, the over the top violence and above all else, Mater! He was so annoying in this film! And if you enjoyed any of the other characters from Radiator Springs in the first film other than Mater, you may want to sit this one out. Even McQueen is a minor character in this film! This is strictly about Mater. Which gives the entire film a very direct to DVD feel as you watch it.
I overheard the two kids in front of me in the theater say to their father halfway into Cars 2; "this is boring, why didn't we go see Transformers?" The day that a child holds a Bay film in higher regard than a Pixar film is a sad day... A sad day indeed...
Here's hoping Brave blows us away!