This is PIXAR's worst film. Meaning not bad by usual standards.

Rating: 6/10 (29 August 2011)

Once in a while, top-notch filmmakers and/or big stars take a break from making their usual brilliant passion projects, and go to do something fun, just to lighten their brain before preparing for the next big thing. James Cameron had "True Lies" in between his epic/sci-fi extravaganzas. Before "Unforgiven" Clint Eastwood made the buddy cop thriller "The Rookie". Edward Zwick who is known for his big-scale action epics like "The Last Samurai" and "Blood Diamond" made the sexually charged comedy "Love and Other Drugs" last year. The best example is probably Steven Spielberg, who can balance crowd-pleasing blockbusters "Indiana Jones", "Jurassic Park" to hard-hitting historical dramas "Saving Private Ryan", "Schindler's List", "Munich"; and still have room for more.
PIXAR is no different. However, most of the critical backlash seems to be programmed disappointment for the sequel to arguably PIXAR's weakest film, at least before this. Granted the first "Cars" wasn't as excellent as PIXAR's other efforts, but I appreciated the "small-town values" message it was trying to convey.
Right off the bat let me start by saying that "Cars 2" is PIXAR's worst film by far. But "worst" by PIXAR's standards is "OK" for overall movies. It's still watchable and enjoyable, though not as heartfelt, emotional or intelligent as previous PIXAR outings such as "Up" and "WALL-E". PIXAR just wants to have fun. Let them.
The thing that turned off the critics the most is the blatant change of pace from the previous film. "Cars" was a drama about appreciating small town values. "Cars 2" is an exciting fast-paced action-adventure in vein (and possibly in tribute) to the gadget-laden Roger Moore/Pierce Brosnan James Bond films. It does not have a heartfelt message. It does not try to do so. It aims to entertain. And I admit, being a James Bond film fan myself, it was very fun to watch.
The story shifts focus from Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) to Mater this time, though I wonder what the executives were thinking giving Larry The Cable Guy the lead in a PIXAR movie. But never mind. Mater comes across as goofy and dim-witted as usual, but at some points I felt as if PIXAR was going to Dreamworks-type humor.
Having said that, I did enjoy Michael Caine, Emily Mortimer and Thomas Kretschmann as the new key characters to the franchise, and some of the action sequences are indeed exhilarating. Helped by solid voice work, fluid animation, gorgeous scenery that looks like the perfect travelogue, and frenetic and engaging music by Michael Giacchino (why hasn't EON Productions hired him for the next Bond film yet?) all combine to make a fun summer flick that entertains.
Critics have found "Cars 2" to be a tad too violent for kids. The James Bond movies (before Dalton) and the "Indiana Jones" films were mostly rated PG and had a variety of spectacular and dangerous stunts and innuendo and had people dying too, and yet families still bring their kids to watch (no wonder why the darker and more cruel "Licence To Kill" flopped). "Tom and Jerry" had the two fighting and bashing and blowing each other up in almost every episode, yet kids still watch (and love) that. "Cars 2" is no different, though I fear the backlash may be started for giving this a G rating instead of a PG.
But then, I have to criticize it for having poor characterization, a cookie-cutter story, some lame jokes and having almost no strong moral message like PIXAR movies usually do. Thought the "alternative fuel" was a nice touch though.
This blockbuster is good for parents who are willing to introduce their little boys to the James Bond films. Apart from that, let's hope PIXAR has had their fun and go back to serious business. The kind that makes another "WALL-E".
Overall rating: 60/100