Pixar knows how to do formula just right- a lot of fun in an "old-fashioned" story

Rating: 7/10 (10 June 2006)

Cars is the kind of animated film that, considering how computer dominated the realm is now and might be for a while, knows what it is and is successful almost in spite of what it could've been. It could've been, for example, a clunker of a formulaic animated movie where not only do you know what will happen every step of the way after a while the imbalance of comedy and the rest of the more grounded parts of the story detract from any pleasure from seeing the movie work on its own. Pixar, and particularly its co-founder John Lasseter, are particularly based on the importance of the story- however much it might lend itself to others- and having the best cast to go alongside the most believable visual schemes. Cars worked for me as being something that is akin to those "old-fashioned" picture of its kind (which I mean here as a compliment and not as some kind of put-down like others might), where after a little bit in the story you'll know what will happen, but it's fun seeing what's done within the scenes and how unexpected bits of delight come from the characters.
Cast-wise, it's actually rather remarkable; this might be the only time, for example, I won't mind a Larry the Cable Guy performance in a film (playing a dim-witted towing truck). Practically every part, in this case, gets the right choices *along-with* having the star power. Owen Wilson is Lightning McQueen, who has a big ego as an up-and-coming race car driver. He gets sidetracked, however, when getting into a big accident ruining a road of a small, near-deserted town full of quirky oakies and long-forgotten types. The amount of supporting talent is commendable- Bonnie Hunt, Cheeck Marin, Tony Shalhoub, George Carlin (was happily surprised at that one), and Paul Newman delivering a good show as a car with a shattered past. Through the story then comes the usual thing- Will Lightnign McQueen suddenly break past his young self-contriteness and find who his friends really are? The answer shouldn't have to be too mysterious to find, but that's not the point that Lasseter and co-director (late) Joe Ranft are getting at.
If the film does have a couple of liabilities- most of the songs are my least favorite of any of the Pixar films with the end-credits one the exception; a couple of scenes don't work as well even within the conventions- it's got plenty to admire. As usual the animation team at Pixar gives the audience what they pay to see with this kind of picture- plenty of fantastic sights, with impeccable details with little things like the road itself and the cars and buildings as well as the vast, cool vistas delivered. Thers's also a sturdy, good-natured message behind the story and scenes, with the nostalgia of a period evoked alongside that of the usual 'don't forget what's important' ideal for kids. And as someone who doesn't really watch Nascar or much of that at all (even for the crashes that remind painfully why less than 1% of the country does this), the racing sequences are tremendously well done, especially when sitting close to the screen. At the end of it, I knew I had seen a very good movie, even if in some little ways it doesn't completely POP like the best of Pixar's work. It's also the first really good take-the-entire-family movie of the summer, at least on a level of spectacle and all-around entertainment.