3D Movies Theatre

What do you get when you take away the sentimentality of Radiator Springs, insert an international flavor, make a tow truck a hero and go over-the-top on action? Cars 2, Pixar’s first sequel outside of Toy Story, may be the weakest film released from the computer-animated studio giant, but is nonetheless a fun ride.

You know your film is in trouble when a six-minute Toy Story short preceding said film is more entertaining and special than the entire two-hour main movie. Cars 2 starts off like a scene straight out of a classic 60s-era spy movie. Distress message. Evil scheme. Hero to the rescue. Spy Finn McMissile (voiced by the solid Michael Caine) is out to investigate mysterious operations taking place on an isolated oil reserve, where Professor Zündapp – yes, that is the name of the character – is in the process of designing weapons to sabotage the World Grand Prix. Unfortunately for McMissile, he is caught by the villainous automobiles and nearly escapes death. One of Pixar’s most spectacular action sequences to date, this sets up the rest of the movie. More chases, less story.

The World Grand Prix, an international racing competition enlisting the most fantastic cars, is sponsored by Miles Axlerod, a former oil tycoon showcasing a new alternative fuel called Allinol. We get some social commentary about the depletion of the world’s oil and resources – but this isn’t WALL-E – and that dinosaurs did in fact once roam on this planet dominated by vehicles. Yes, some context and background is necessary, but why at the cost of repeating plot elements from a previous Pixar film? We soon learn that cars competing in this magnficent competition are using Allinol, but once several competitors using this alternative energy unexpectedly crash on the track, red flags are raised. Is Allinol the cause? What are we supposed to do? Who will save the day and discover the automobiles responsible for this scheme? Enter our hero, Mater (once again voiced by comedian Larry the Cable Guy).

After Mater encourages Lightning McQueen, his best buddy, to sign up for the Prix, the silly but sweet tow truck, the former hotshot rookie and the rest of McQueen’s Radiator Springs pit crew set off for Japan, the first stop along the race. There, in a bathroom, no less, Mater is mistaken as a special agent and enlisted to help McMissile and Holley Shiftwell (Emily Mortimer) find the schemers hoping to blow up cars using Allinol through directing high levels of radiation on them. Yes, they think crazy-acting Mater is the American spy. Good cover, they think. How pathetic, the audience thinks. Now Mater’s series of mistakes and antics cost McQueen from winning the first race along the neon-lit streets of Tokyo. McQueen calls out his Radiator Springs pal, and the disappointed truck intends on heading home. But not before the spies snatch Mater up for assistance. Here he is wanted to help. Why go back?

The following hour of Cars is much like what we have seen already. Misunderstanding, chase scene, a few comedic elements, repeat. Everything fits into the formula as you would expect it to, and sadly, because of the film’s predictable structure, you begin to wonder if Pixar was even behind this project. There are the typical characteristics that define Pixar’s class, from the gorgeous animation, rousing musical score, abundance of in-jokes and terrific special effects. But what is lost is perhaps the most important, the emotional core central to each of their previous entries.

Substance characterizes every single Pixar production to date. Toy Story focuses on the everlasting bonds between friends threatened by mortality. Finding Nemo exhibits the dedication of parents taking care of their children. Even often-overlooked A Bug’s Life is heavy in its emphasis on the hard-working spirit of the everyman. Where the real meat of Cars 2 exists, I have no clue. I know I am not alone when I write that this twelfth Pixar film feels lacking in emotion. I don’t feel connected to the characters or the overall storyline. Sure, I recognize Mater’s regret every now and then, and I can even appreciate the gravity of the dangers of the alternative fuel, but there’s not enough grabbing me to worry about whether or not the tow truck wins back the trust of his best friend, or even the fate of Lightning McQueen for that matter. The emotional punch is simply lacking, for one reason or another. The excitement and laughter is there, but not the grit. For better or worse, the extremely high standard this computer-animation studio has set in the respect of creating quality products that tug at our hearts, makes Cars 2 a disappointment.

The plot of Cars 2 is such a radical departure from the original that it makes it seem like this caper belongs in an entirely different franchise. However, while the tone significantly differs from the first Cars, replacing the slow pacing in favor of fast-action fun seems to benefit the film overall. The most glaring absence in this sequel is the character that strengthened the story of the first. Paul Newman, voice of the legendary Hudson Hornet, passed away in 2008, and instead of replacing the wise car with another performer, Pixar tastefully makes reference to Doc Hudson’s passing. Another aspect of the 2006 classic that I loved was the whole small-town aura, with a cast of characters that reminded viewers of American nostalgia. Sure, Sally, Luigi, Fillmore and the rest of the Radiators Springs gang are featured, but very minimally. Instead we focus the attention on new faces, like Francesco Bernoulli, a cocky race car that exudes the same vibe as Michael Keaton’s also arrogant Chick Hicks from Cars. Whether or not the lack of airtime on the old characters is a negative depends on if you enjoyed the vibe the first film offered.

The release of a Pixar film every year is like a birthday celebration. Friends come over to take part in the special event, laugh, party and maybe even shed a few tears. Cars 2, on the other hand, is like receiving just the frosting – without the delicious elements of the actual cake – and having your friends drop off defective gifts. While those friends intended on making that event special, they realized they had committed to other obligations and only provide some of the effort. That is what Cars 2 feels like, a half-hearted exercise in desiring to accomplish a task, and never quite succeeding on all four cylinders.Cars 2 is better than many films you could catch this summer, but it fails to live up to the precedent every prior Pixar picture has accomplished. Therefore, in a way, this season almost seems incomplete.