Rated G
Directed by John Lasseter (the Toy Story films, A Bug’s Life…)
Starring Owen Wilson, Paul Newman, Larry the Cable Guy…
A fun family film… but not exactly fast paced.
Don’t get me wrong—I liked Cars. But its pacing was just a little too slow. Don’t even come in with any expectations of cartoon greats like The Incredibles or Toy Story II.
THE GOOD:
The film has a lot of heart—a feel good film with a few moments where you might even need a Kleenex.
Cars is also just good storytelling. The story is about a young, cocky race-car who has a shot at the “Piston Cup” if he can just make it to L.A. for the big race. On a trip across the country, this rookie gets stalled in a small town and learns a little about life and relationships in the process.
From Newman to token redneck Larry the Cable Guy, all the voice talent is top notch.
The animation was very good. The opening race scene was one of the best pieces of animation I’ve seen.
Race fans and classic car buffs will enjoy the film as well. My dad was sitting next to me watching this film. He was getting nostalgic about Route 66 and kept identifying the models of many of the cars. I think this is the first cartoon that I can honestly say my dad enjoyed more than me.
THE BAD:
What can I say… the film was a little slow for me.
SHOULD KIDS SEE IT:
If you let your kids watch Shrek, then you won’t have a problem with Cars. Cars is G, not PG. Even though it waded into the territory of a little crude humor, it was mild compared to the typical cartoons of today.
Conversation Starter
Three Simple Questions (with Answers You May Be Looking for):
- What are some of the messages or themes you observed in this movie?
- How do you suppose we—as serious Christ-followers—should react to this movie?
- How can we move from healthy, Bible-based opinions about this movie to actually living out those opinions?
