There comes a time in every great sportsperson’s life when somebody younger, faster, stronger comes along and knocks them off their perch. The legendary racer Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) is no different. Out of nowhere, McQueen is beaten to the chequered flag by rookie racer Jackson Storm (Armie Hammer), the first of a new breed of racers. Struggling to keep pace like he used to it looks like McQueen’s days in the sport are numbered. With a point to prove however, McQueen decides he wants to continue racing; and with the help of trainer Cruz Ramirez (Cristela Alonzo) works to improve his speed with the aim of returning to the track to beat Storm.
From a critical perspective I should really be disappointed by this film. The plot was formulaic, predictable and unoriginal. But you know what...I don’t care, I really enjoyed it.
I love sports movies, in this movie we see someone who was used to being at the top having to watch younger, faster cars racing ahead of him. Luckily I love those movies, so for me seeing them recreated, but with cars, was a joy.
From a technical perspective I have to commend the animators, who are just getting better and better at making their drawings look realistic. Some of the backgrounds in this film were the most lifelike drawings I’ve seen since ‘The Good Dinosaur’ – also from Pixar studios.
What surprised me the most was that there were a few emotional moments. At least when I saw ‘Inside Out’ I had somewhat of an expectation I may choke up. With this, the feelings weren’t as strong, but on a few occasions I was caught off guard. While McQueen is in training and having doubts about his ability, he fondly looks back to his former mentor, Doc Hudson, for inspiration, which I found touching.
There’s also a lot of comedy too. The main cast are good, but it was Mater and a new character, Miss Fritter that made me laugh most.
it’s formulaic, predictable and unoriginal. It’s a formula I happen to enjoy however, so despite the many flaws I could point out, I’m just going to say that I really enjoyed it and that if you enjoy underdog sports movies then this is a film for you.
- Movie URL: https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/260514-cars-3?language=en-US
- Movie Critic: AAA