2011.106 Minutes. Rated G.
“Tow Mater, average intelligence.”
I feel obliged to offer some insight into the new release of Cars 2. I have been watching the original Cars on average of about once every two weeks courtesy of my four (4) year-old who just loves Lightning McQueen and the cast of car-achters. I took my son to see Cars 2 in theaters when it was released in June, and now its release onto DVD has compelled me not only to buy a copy for my son, but to offer a few reasons why, despite the repetition in viewing, I enjoy it so much.
Cars 2 – Walt Disney Pictures
I am a big fan of James Bond, and Cars 2 offers a little action-packed suspense ala Bond for the adults. Cars 2 is part suspense thriller, part comedy and part Goldfinger. Naturally, children’s movie makers seem to realize that adults mustn’t needlessly suffer through their kids’ movies with them, at least in principle. Children’s films have become more interesting, in part because of subtle adult plots and references in the films. Despite my best efforts to vacate the TV room while my son watches his occasional movie, I get pleas to sit down with him to share in the viewing experience. While tired of seeing Cars, I am happy to sit down for a few runs of Cars 2, never mind the fact that it is a fresh alternative to a couple years worth of re-runs.
In the end of Cars, I got the impression that Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) was happy to retire with his new mate, Sally (Bonnie Hunt), the Porsche 911 of Lightning’s dream, to the once forgotten town of Radiator Springs. In the opening scenes of Cars 2, Lightning is lured out of retirement by Francesco Bernoulli (John Turturro), the champion Formula One race car, to race in the World Grand Prix. Lightning wants to challenge the dominance and the arrogance of Francesco, and so obliges his request to race.
Viewers are taken on a wild tour of the international race scene, from Japan to Italy to England. All the while, Finn McMissile (Michael Caine) is undercover as British Intelligence, on the trail of organized car crime (Lemons of the car world – Trunkov, Gremlin, Hugo) set to ruin the World Grand Prix. Lightning is followed by his trusty best friend, Mater (Larry the Cable Guy), “average intelligence”, who gets unknowingly caught up in a little international espionage of his own. This is where the plot stirs laughter, and presents a clear separation from the serious overtones of a James Bond film.
While the suspense thickens at every car crash, we are not sure who is responsible for the destruction, but we (the adults) suspect there must be some typical oil cartel behind the unfortunate turn of events. And while the adult mind is piecing its own complex puzzle together, my son has his own answer: “Cars 2 is even better than Cars.” It doesn’t take long for me to realize that my plot turns with the advanced knowledge of a Bond movie, and it need only turn with the knowledge of a four-year-old who loves cars and racing and adventure. While Lightning McQueen is nearly eliminated in a fiery crash at every chicane, Mater and Finn are engaged in their own race to find the criminals and arraign them on the world stage before the final race. As the clock ticks on the race to the finish, parents are on the edge of their seats, wondering if their children will be disappointed. But how could they be?!
Cars 2 goes international, and it reminds me of the times I would sit down early Sunday mornings to watch Formula One racing–the pre-eminent form of racing in the world–with my father. Even though I am not that knowledgeable about cars, I can appreciate the World Grand Prix and the subtle jokes of the racers, the cast of personalities, and the inspiration for the movie. It was all the more reason for me to enjoy the voice of David Hobbscap (David Hobbs), announcer for Formula One races around the world. All anecdotes aside, there is every reason why this is a movie for everyone, not just kids or car enthusiasts. Perhaps it is a pick for the holidays—a chance to put political banter aside in place of a few laughs, for kids and adults alike
