Its good. Not great. But worthy.

Rating: 7/10 (11 June 2006)

The audience I saw this with was packed, enjoyed the race at the start, Loved the tractor tipping, got into the plot some, got bored in the middle when they spend too much time on Owen Wilson there fixing the road, and perked up at the end. You do get into the characters and they made a point of not beating you over the head w/ the message of valuing small towns, home, family, etc over bright lights/big city.
All good. The best parts the cow-tipping take-off, with a great nod to Steve McQueen's last movie 'the Hunter', where there is a chase involving a combine. Great stuff.
I liked the little Warning Cone hotel, the Italian tire-store owners, Paul Newman, Bonnie Hunt and of course Owen Wilson. Great backgrounds and a fine, fun, nostalgic array of old cars of time gone by.
It's not a great movie, it's too long, and you sorta wish they'd get on with things quicker. But its family friendly, enjoyable, funny, has some heart, and doesn't insult your intelligence. I liked it about as much as I did Monsters Inc, which is def. praise from me.
Pixar does it again.
*** outta ****