Bypass this wreck of a movie.

Rating: 6/10 (6 July 2006)

It had to happen. Nobody's perfect (or near perfect), but Pixar has been very close. Until now. This movie reeks of a poor Dreamworks production. Weak humor, too many topical (and dated) references, and a lead that is as weak as the acceleration on a Ford Pinto. Where have you gone Woody and Buzz, Marlon and Nemo, The Parr family, Sully and Stanley, and Flick and his band of lovable losers? You felt for these guys; you laughed at and with them. Not in Cars. I saw this movie with the ideal audience: A drive-in in rural Arkansas, full of kids and NASCAR fans on a (relatively) cool summer night. No laughs. The trucks (and a few cars) started immediately following the end of the movie. Pixar fans know that this can be a great chance to continue the movie, but know body cared. They just wanted to get out of there and pretend the last two hours hadn't happened. I should have trusted my gut about Cars, the feeling of dread that followed seeing the initial trailers and not been suckered in by undeservedly positive reviews. Would they have been this glowing for the same movie if it had been but out by someone other than Pixar: I don't think so. Bypass this wreck.