Pixar’s run of quality animated movies is stellar, with the first Cars the exception proving the rule: It looked good, but was hollow as a wheel-well. The sequel exists only because the merch haul of the first one was so large, and somehow it manages to be slicker, more action-packed, and even less moving. Its biggest mistake is putting irritating tow-truck Mater (Larry the Cable Guy) front and centre of a high speed global espionage and racing tale. The character embodies the dullest of American myths, that the uncouth hayseed with a good heart always wins the day. A couple saving graces: Michael Caine as an Aston Martin superspy and John Turturro as a cocky Italian race car, rockin’ his thickest accent since Jesus Quintana. (I kept hoping he’s say, “Nobody fucks with the Formula One!”)
This article appears in Jun 23-29, 2011.
Oh for the love of crimony…Not everything in the world has to be viewed through Chomsky-goggles. I swear, you Coasties view “Amerika” as being two red enclaves ,New York and L.A., and in between – Terra Incognita. “Here be Monsters”. FFS. It’s a cartoon, not a redstate “Triumph of the Will”
I kept hoping he’d say – your welcome
My 3 year old will enjoy it so who the fuck cares if the Coast liked it or not? While the creators of these movies try to write plots and jokes that will appeal to adults, at the end of the day, the kids like the shiny, funny cars and the racing and crashes, so let’s not waste our intellectual energy by going too in depth here! To kids, Mater = funny, that’s all you need to know.