Mediocre Story

Rating: 5/10 (26 June 2006)

This film was off to a good start but within 25 minutes had sagged into a depressingly predictable storyline. Every twist and turn of the story seemed to think of itself as brilliant when, in in reality, it could invariably be seen from 20 minutes away. Each predictable plot shift seemed like a tired viewer shifting in his or her seat groaning with annoyance. The film was uninspired and tried to make everyone happy in the end. The film's protagonist was unlikable from the first minute to the last seconds and the antagonist was cliché. Cliché and unable to make fun of that cliché. "The Incredables" used contant clichés but danced around them humorously making fun of their every move with a delicate and dark wit.
I suppose this film was entertaining on some level and did have a few truly witty lines. But do not expect more then a couple slow chuckles helped along by a need to break the boredom. It has been about a week since I saw this film and I only remember one line from near the beginning. For a film that is meant to be humorous, one memorable line should be embarrassing for the filmmakers. Another in a long line of failed films that tries to be both funny and touching.
The only redeeming quality of the film is the excellent graphics. They were however only a small improvement from pixars previous films. The Nature scenes were astounding but the cars themselves were crude and seemed to make their situation far less believable. I could not think of the cars as people. The line between the cars as vehicles and cars as people themselves was not successfully blurred. 5/10 seems to be a little high in my opinion but this film does fit in well with many other films rated in that range. It is not without merit but certainly does not achieve what has been possibly pixars greatest storytelling feat... the ability for their stories to appeal to both adults and children. Cars is most sad because of its great potential but inability to deliver on the qualities that pixar has always been able to in the past. Rent this one.