The newest installment in the well-known animated series “Cars” has arrived, so let’s just get this out in the open: the original was wonderful, and the second was not that great to the point that it is kind of known that it was made just to get the cash. Now, after 6 years later, “Cars 3” is here, but the big question is: do we have a case of redemption or has the series been ruined?
Directed by Brian Fee, who is making directorial debut, “Cars 3” features the voices of Owen Wilson (Wedding Singers, Hall Pass), Cristella Alanzo (Cristela, The Angry Birds Movie), Chris Cooper (American Beauty, October Sky), Nathan Fillion (Castle, Serenity), Armie Hammer (The Social Experiment, The Man From Uncle), Bonnie Hunt (The Green Mile, Zootopia), Kerry Washington (Ray, Django Unchained), Margo Martindale (Million Dollar Baby, The Hollars), and Larry The Cable Guy (Jingle All the Way 2, Bounty Hunters). With the original crew back from the first 2 films, Lightning McQueen (Wilson) is realizing he is getting older and he is starting to lose newer and faster cars, especially Jackson Storm (Hammer). After a major crash, he takes some time off and goes back to his roots on how to get faster to compete with the newer cars.
Since this is the same cast that we all know from the first two films, there is still Wilson with that same soothing voice that makes the character. There are also new characters including Cruz Ramirez (voiced by Alanzo), the trainer who compliments Wilson’s character very well. Of course I have to give a shout out to Larry the Cable Guy, who adds that great comedy and a tone that is always perfect for Mater. When it comes to the look of the film, I was blown away by the animation that is so advanced that some scenes looked realistic. We did get to see the film in 3-D, and there are some scenes that are enhanced by it, like the scenes with Smokey (Cooper).
The film is almost 2 hours long, but it is paced well. There are a few things that are a little predicable, but still I was interested throughout. There are also some great universal lessons that it teaches while not dragging the plot out. There also many references to classic films and parts of pop culture in this film added, but in the right and funny way. There is also a short before the feature (as is the Pixar way) named “Lou” which is about 5-10 minutes long and deals with bullying through a child’s eye very well. There is truly not much about this film I did not like, and the series has truly redeemed itself. This film is great for the entire family, and I am actually going to give this film the double coveted of full price in the theaters in 3-D.