Pixar takes our imagination for a drive - Cars Reviews

I wanted to start my new review system of with a great film, and Disney/Pixar?s ?Cars? is that and more. It is entertaining, heartwarming, and easily the best children?s movie since Pixar?s last effort, ?The Incredibles.? It?s also one of the best films of 2006 in any genre. While the 117-minute running time may be too long for the youngest of children, everyone else will be enamored and not wishing for it to end. Over the years Pixar has become the master of taking a very simple concept and turning it into something brilliant. To this date they?ve done it with toys, bugs, monsters, fish, and even superheroes, so why should cars be any different? The story centers around a young hotrod racer named Lightning McQueen, who goes quickly from being a celebrity to trapped in Radiator Springs, a tiny town nestled along the iconic Route 66. He meets a variety of characters there, from a rusty tow truck to a grumpy judge with a secret past. In the end, however, there are lessons that Lightning learns that will help him both on the track and off. What has stood out in the past about Pixar films is their stellar casting, and ?Cars? is really no different. Being the top animation studio in America, they don?t have to rely on big-name celebrities to sell a product. This film does have some star power, but they don?t even advertise their characters as anything but characters (which is easily for the best). Dallas native Owen Wilson is fun as Lightning McQueen, and Paul Newman plays the judge Doc Hudson wonderfully; but the real standout of the film is Larry the Cable Guy as Mater, the broken-down tow truck that quickly becomes Lightning?s best friend. It is a struggle for me to compliment Larry at all, considering that I often find his standup to be annoying. He just is so perfect for the part. He receives many of the movie?s best lines and remains in character for almost all of the film (though there is one moment where he feels the need to yell his trademark phrase). Since this is a film about racing, Pixar has assembled several racing legends to play a part in voice acting. These stars include Richard Petty, Dale Earnhart, Jr., and Mario Andretti. There are other names that make an appearance, but those should be obvious enough in the movie and I don?t wish to spoil everything. Outside from its performances Cars delivers with as good of a visual presentation that we have received from Pixar. Only 2003?s ?Finding Nemo? comes to mind as a more beautiful film. The scenery is lush, the backgrounds colorful, and the characters vibrant. The race scenes present a true since of speed; not once does it seem fake or unimportant. The soundtrack is a little spotty at times but fun overall. In my mind ?Cars? is a fantastic work of art, so it is difficult for me to see how anyone might dislike it. For some reason it was the weakest-reviewed of any Pixar film to this point, and I can only speculate why. Maybe they?re not fans of Owen Wilson or Larry the Cable Guy. Maybe they want to see Pixar fall on their face once. I simply don?t know. I do know, however, that everyone in my screening (including myself) could not stop talking about ?Cars? as we went our separate ways. Next to ?Toy Story 2? it?s my favorite of Pixar?s many fantastic works. As a last word to the wise, be sure to stick around during the credits for some great laughs. It?ll be worth your time just as much as the rest of the film was.