Lightning McQueen: Owen Wilson
Mater: Larry the Cable Guy
Sally: Bonnie Hunt
Doc Hudson: Paul Newman
Ramone: Cheech Marin
Flo: Jenifer Lewis
Sarge: Paul Dooley
Fillmore: George Carlin
Chick Hicks: Michael Keaton
The King: Richard Petty
Guido: Guido Quaroni
Luigi: Tony Shalhoub
Sheriff: Michael Wallis
Mack: John Ratzenberger
Buena Vista Pictures presents a film directed by John Lasseter. It was written by Lasster; screenplay by Dan Fogelman, story by Jorgen Klubian, Philip Loren, Kiel Murray, and Joe Ranft; with additional screenplay material by Robert L. Baird and Dan Gerson. The running time is 118 minutes. It is rated G.
BY JACOB ZIEGLER, 411Movies
Due to the ridiculous amount of success that Pixar has had with their first six feature films, it will be impossible for them to ever release a film without enormous expectations. Given that this is also Pixar's first film outside of the Disney umbrella, and that increases the scrutiny sure to be levied upon director John Lasseter's ("Toy Story" and its sequel, as well as "A Bug's Life") latest film.
I'm happy to report that "Cars" is a good little movie, and even holds up on the second viewing. The story is nothing but convention piled on top of convention, but they're story elements that generally work, especially given the target audience. Well, Pixar movies are all ostensibly for adults as well as kids, but this is obviously a family movie.
They've tackled toys, monsters, fish, bugs, and superheroes, and this time around cars get personified into characters with little ticks and catchphrases. The lead character is Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson), a hotshot young racer (even though everyone in this movie is a car they still have car racing) who thinks that he can do it all on his own. His chief rivals are the venerable legend "The King" (voiced by racing superstar Richard Petty) and Chick Hicks (the delightfully irritating Michael Keaton), and all three of them are the main contenders for the prestigious Piston Cup.
In the opening race sequence (which is beautifully animated and affirms that Pixar is the current king of animation) all three cars tie. This means that they must compete in a tie-breaker race in California (where they start off at I'm not sure) in one week's time. The race is important to all of them, because "The King" is close to retirement, Hicks is a perennial runner-up, and Lightning is an up and comer who could shock the world with a win. He also wants to become the new spokescar for Dinoco, since "The King" will no longer be around.
Along the way to Cali, Lightning's driver Mack (Pixar veteran John Ratzenberger) loses him. And since Lightning was never got headlights (but he does have stickers where headlights would be), he quickly finds himself lost. He turns up in a small town just a bit off the beaten path. He meets a colorful cast of characters, including a tow truck named Mater (Larry the Cable Guy), who explains that his name is just like "termater," (tomato), just without the "ter." There's also the cute Porsche Sally (Bonnie Hunt), and a grizzled old-timer Doc Hudson (Paul Newman).
Where the story goes from here is perpetually predictable: the arrogant young upstart learns the value of friendship and becomes a good person after going through some emotionally turbulent times. It's a story that's been done to death, but it works well enough for its modest goals.
If at all possible, try to see a digital presentation of "Cars." I've seen it twice, once digitally and once on film, and the difference is immediately noticeable. The animation is absolutely gorgeous, and the digital format is the medium by which it comes through the best.
"Cars" is certainly my least favorite of all the Pixar feature films, which can be seen as a negative, but since this is a pretty good little movie it just speaks to the overall strength of the Pixar studio.
The 411: “Cars” is much better than I anticipated it being. It’s very average in parts, but the animation and several great vocal performances (Keaton especially, and even Larry the Cable Guy, whom I’ve never liked) make it a solidly enjoyable experience.
