Cars

The thing about Pixar movies is that they are always better than you expect. You think, kids movie eh? Not for me. Animated you say? No thanks. G rating? No way. And then you watch it, and you wind up with a smile on your face the whole time, laughing out loud at subtle references, homages, and hidden jokes, forgetting its even supposed to be a kids movie.

I know a 5 year-old who loves this movie. The idea of talking cars alone is enough to drive them wild. Plus this movie is awesome looking. Colorful, loud, shiney, almost photo-realistic. It really is one of the best looking Pixar movies out there.

Basically the movie is about a rookie racecar named Lightning McQueen who is cocky and full of himself. He gets stranded along Route 66 and meets a bunch of colorful and endearing cars of Radiator Springs, a town abandoned by the interstate that bypasses their town. He meets an old racing legend and gains a love interest (Sally), and learns about friends and humility etc and so forth. The movie is heartwarming and teaches the kids life lessons and such, but the best part about this movie comes from the stuff that is clearly for the adults.

For instance: I doubt that my little 5 year old friend caught such subtleties like George Carlin voicing the Volkswagon van, who pushes people to try some of his "organic blend gasoliiine, man" while high off of some himself. ("Duuuude, I swear every third blink of that light is totally slower. Am I the only one who is seeing this?") I don't think children would understand why its funny that Cheech Marin is the voice of an obnoxiously painted 1959 Impala lowrider, or get the sterotypes at work behind the Italian Fiat 500 Ferrari-loving tire experts voiced by Tony Shalhoub. (For me, they were the funniest part about this movie.)

Lost on such youngin's would be the history behind the name McQueen and the great car scenes from Bullitt the name evokes, as well as the storied past of the actual Fabulous Hudson Hornet of the early 50's. I doubt many children have encountered the ubiquitous group of Rice-Rockets (called the Delinquent Road Hazards here) that torment the road in their Nissans, Mitsubishis and Scions.

I'd like to think young kids won't understand the subtle innuendo when McQueen catches a glimpse of a pinstriped tattoo on the tail of Sally's back. (Tramp Stamp anyone?) My favorite reference however came in the form of Harv, McQueen's agent, voiced by Jeremy Piven and alluding to the character of Ari Gold from Entourage. (I don't know of many 5 year-olds who watch Entourage.)

And if you're not a racing fan at all (i'm not) you might even miss all the big name cameos by the likes of Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Darrell Waltrip and Mario Andretti, amongst others.

As always with Pixar movies, Cars is packed with jokes and references such as these that make it both a kid's movie and a grown-up's movie. The makers of this movie spent time on their own trip down Route 66 to soak up the atmosphere and warm feeling of a good road trip themselves. Each character is lovingly crafted and created, and yet this still winds up being just a very average Pixar movie, amongst the low end of all the Pixar movies made. While it is one of the best looking, the script lacks somewhat in the creativity and pure heart that we have come to love from Pixar, and often the stereotypes are overdone. The movie is also on the long side for a movie of its type, at 2 hours. Even an average Pixar movie is worth seeing though, and it will bring a smile to your face. I just hope this isn't a sign of things to come under the new Disney ownership of Pixar.

Be sure to stick around for the end credits, where the cars watch drive in movies parodied after other Pixar movies, with cars as the main characters. Its the funniest part of the movie.

"Cars" at Rotten Tomatoes - 76%
"Cars" at IMDB