Route 66 was never this much fun

Rating: 8/10 (11 June 2006)

It's ironic don't you think, that the X-Men's Last Stand would be up against a squad of animated marvels known simply as "Cars". The film was a particularly unique experience for me since I was able to accompany my year and a half year old grandson to his first movie theater experience. Though antsy at times, he seemed to be fairly well mesmerized by the events on screen, and not distracted by a nearly full theater packed with kids on a Sunday afternoon.
Film animation continues to make wondrous strides, and it looks like Disney and Pixar have another hit on their hands. The film will appeal to the inner kid in all of us that yearns for a simpler time and good friends to share it with. It occurred to me on the drive home though that all those down home sentiments are conveyed on film by six figure computer whizzes that have no idea what Hudson Hornet might have gone through winning his races in the 1950's. But at least the story works.
I have to admit, I'm not that good at placing the voices to their characters. The only ones that were identifiable for me were Paul Newman, Larry the Cable Guy, and Cheech Marin, while John Ratzenberger was unmistakable as Mack. The other voices, some belonging to even bigger celebs escaped me, but then again, it was about the characters and not their secret identities.
Not to offer too much of a cliché, "Cars" is a fun ride, made even better if you can catch it with someone younger along for the road trip. In my case, fifty years younger was just the right buddy to have along.