3D Cardboard

Rating: 5/10 (10 January 2013)

The biggest problem with this movie is not the guns, tasers, murders or too much Mater. It's the characters. In the first movie both McQueen and Doc Hudson have interesting character arcs. Lightning discovers that friendship and 'doing the right thing' is more important than winning the Piston Cup. Doc finally makes peace with himself, reveals his secret and returns to the racing world. We also get to know Sally's story and the tale of Radiator Springs. The town in fact is a character on it's own. It's changes during the movie. It has a history. It has heart.
I can't find any of this in Cars 2. It's a pseudo-James Bond story build around slapstick jokes and fancy CGI tricks. Sure is looks great, but it lacks character. There is not one scene that comes close to -let's say- Doc Hudson racing in the desert, Guido's Pitstop or Lightning pushing The King across the finish line.
This is why me and my daughter keep on watching the first Cars movie. It doesn't have guns or flying cars. It has a heart... and Doc Hudson.