An Enjoyable Cruise

Rating: 7/10 (3 February 2011)

As you may be able to tell by now, I'm a big fan of Pixar. I've watched almost all of their films, and I hope to re-watch (and review!) many of them later this year. So while I'm not a big fan of car racing, I was still looking forward to watching Cars. I'm glad I did.
The Story: Lightning McQueen is a rookie race car intent on one thing - winning the Piston Cup. While on the way to the final race of the season, he ends up stranded in the small town of Radiator Spring with an obligation to repair their road which he wrecked on his way through the town.
The Good: This film has several important lessons, including putting other before ourselves, respecting our elders, and setting a good example for those looking up to us. Perhaps the most important theme, however, is just to slow down and enjoy life. One of Lightning's biggest problems is that he's impatient and selfish. He's living life in the fast lane and he wants everything done his way. After he gets stranded in Radiator Springs he's forced to slow down and enjoy life and the relationships it brings him. A much needed lesson in the hectic consumer culture we live in today.
The Bad: This is a little edgier than Pixar's other films, though in comparison to many other films it's still fairly clean. Among the offensive elements are a few uses of language, a couple of slight references to drug use, and several of the race cars' very prideful attitudes (though these are resolved pretty well by the film's conclusion). Towards the beginning of the film Lightning races a train to a crossing and darts in front of it at the very last minute. While it is a very brief scene it is not portrayed as a bad thing, whereas in reality it is a very dangerous and foolish thing to try.
Conclusion: While Cars is certainly not Pixar's greatest film, it is a very enjoyable ride. There are a few uncomfortable bumps every once in a while, but on the whole Pixar has once again taken us on a smooth and delightful cruse.