Once A Fan, Always A Fan

Rating: 9/10 (17 October 2011)

I admit, right at the beginning of this review, I am biased towards the Cars franchise. Since the very first one in 2006 (which, I swear to you, I believed to be Pixar's downfall itself before I even saw the movie) I have been a fan of Cars. Never was my favorite the cocky, arrogant rookie main character, never was it the bumbling sidekick Mater, it was the unloved, bad guy character Chick Hicks. Who, in all truth, was likely ten times as arrogant as McQueen himself.
Now, I must make a confession- I saw Cars 2 in theaters three times, anticipating that the film would destroy all my hopes and dreams- yes, even I, a Cars fan who wrote fanfiction based on the original film, mocked Pixar's decision to make a sequel to their 'most hated' movie. Yet, the moment the Toy Story short began, I realized all my anticipations that the movie would be a flop were wrong.
This movie has a blend of super spy action and Pixar's own unique brilliance. I think most people miss out on the true heart of this one- the moral of the story is realized with Mater. Everyone views him as just the stupid tow truck- McQueen even tells him to act unlike himself. Yet in the end, the moral is to just be yourself.
Yes, this movie is chock full of the character that some people have compared as the Jar Jar of the Cars franchise. Yes, it is a super spy movie that has some very questionable jokes and actual on-screen deaths. Yes, it wasn't a sequel to The Incredibles (which, to me, was honestly just another superhero movie) or Ratatouille (ugh, cooking). But, it was a sequel to Cars. And I can honestly say this- it's what I wanted it to be. In all honesty, Cars 2 was a Pixar great in its own way.
For one, for a fanfiction writer like myself, it answered questions that needed to be answered. Like guns and planes and the like. It was a more in depth view to a world that before had only been a single town and two racetracks. It was like a look into another world, another dimension, where yes, humans don't exist. In all the other Pixar movies, there are humans. So why is it the one that doesn't have humans suddenly has the most opposition?
Secondly, Cars 2 has exactly what it needed to have. John Lasseter made this and Cars because he got an idea. Haven't you ever just had an idea and wanted to go with it? He did, and it became a movie that has characters which have become plastered to little kids T-shirts. People recognize the characters, and even if these kids don't have the in depth experience that I do having grown up with Pixar (literally, Toy Story came out 2 years after I was born, and I've seen every single Pixar movie) they know the characters.
Thirdly, the music is amazing. Most pointedly, the song in the credits, sung by a popular country singer in the US and a popular singer in the UK. It's a song that really personifies a personal connection I have with this movie- I have a best friend in England. I saw this movie in England with her- all three times. It was, in a way, very touching to see the details of London in an animated movie having only been there a few days before. It was touching seeing a movie about being yourself with the very friend who helped me through middle school, a time where I had to be someone else to fit in; a problem she also had. Cars 2 inspired me, and it touched me.
I know there are people out there who hate this movie. I know there are people who believe Pixar failed the world with this one. I'm sorry that I'm an actual fan of both movies. But Pixar has always been my inspiration. They dream of worlds no one else would believe, worlds no one else could possibly think up. They take an idea and make it grow into something unique, something valuable. Something that is worth watching.
Toy Story 3 had a personal connection for me- I was going off to college soon when I saw that movie. The moment I got home from that movie, I went to my toy box in my room to see if I still had the Woody doll I've had since as long as I can remember. I cried at that movie. Cars 2 didn't have that same amount of connection for me. Yet, it did because of it's message. In a world where everyone feels the need to conform, just be yourself.
Now the only thing to worry about with Pixar is their prequel to Monsters Inc.
Although, trust me- I loved the first. You'll probably see a review for that one in 2013 :)