Fails to deliver

Rating: Null/10 (5 August 2011)

I begin with a quote from John Lasseter, the movie director: Let me tell you a funny story. I took the family to see this film one weekend - I'll go to see almost any film that's good for the whole family. And so we're sitting there watching this film, which I won't name, and there are long stretches that are just not very entertaining. My little son - he was probably 6 at the time - was sitting next to me, and right in the middle of this dull section, he turns to me and says, "Dad? How many letters are in my name?" I must have laughed for five minutes. I thought, Oh, man, this movie has lost this little boy. His mind has been wandering, trying to figure out how many letters there are in his name. So I told my wife, Nancy, what he said, and she started laughing, and then the story went down the row through my whole family, our four other sons, and we're sitting there as a family giggling and laughing. And I thought to myself, If ever a child anywhere in the world leans over to their daddy during one of my movies and asks, "How many letters are in my name?" I'll quit.
John Lasseter's job is as safe as ever. Cars 2 will not give children the time to think for themselves.
The constant rapid action sequence, illogical plot, double meaning punch jokes that are not very funny even for an adult, and primarily no strongly developed character with which to identify will leave children and adults confused just enough to prevent them from considering number and letters in their names.
What a difference from the original Cars. Cashing in on the merchandising success of a great original story developed with sensibility for strong character, relationship development, outsider inclusion, Cars 2 feels like a feature length commercial.
Financially, it will be a success. Because it seems to be its primary objective. Entertainment value ? Perhaps for those attracted to mindless exploitation of the few low common denominators that seem to work on a certain relatively high percentage of viewership: SFX, chase, shootings, fire, blowups, wow-effect. Perfect for a constant gratification bred viewer. Good storytelling ? Who needs good storytelling anymore... well, the kids do.
Joe Ranft had it figured out, and has delivered, what a great talent and what a loss, even more apparent now, after release of Cars 2.
Cars 2 is a major disappointment on many fronts. The expectations were high after Cars 1, and such a long long wait, I must admit. But to give up on even trying to get close to the beauty of Cars 1, that is unforgivable. Shame.