Cars 2 (2011)

Before I talk about the movie, I would like to mention something funny that happened during the previews. I saw the matinee screening so the theater was filled entirely by young kids with their parents in tow. They are always vocally responsive to the films that excite them, and equally receptive to the previews. All of the films that Cars 2 previewed said that they would be shot in 3D--no response. Then Spy Kids 4: All the Time in the World showed--no response. At the end, however, it tried to be clever and said the experience would be in "4D"--uproarious response from every child under 8 in the theater. Kids literally out of their seats demanding more information: What is the 4th dimension?! Will I be fighting along side them? Is it safe? Tell us!
I love kids.

Cars 2 gives us Pixar's most complex and thought out plot since The Incredibles. It is also their most visually dazzling since WALL-E. This second installment is in some ways a large step forward, but I would like to avoid comparing the first to the second as much as possible. I have never believed that films should be compared in such ways; each should be looked at for its own merits.

Lightning McQueen is back for this latest film, but he rides shotgun to Mater, the lovable, oafish tow-truck who, for better or worse, takes the driver's seat for this adventure. As it was in the first film, racing provides the impetus for the plot. The hotshot, Italian racecar, Francesco Bernoulli (John Turturro), has challenged McQueen to a race to determine the fastest car in the world. Sponsored by a new alternative fuel Allinol-- created by the once oil billionaire, now electric-car tycoon Sir Miles Axelrod (Eddie Izzard)--the first ever World Grand Prix will take place in Japan, Italy, and finally in the United Kingdom.

This is more or less the backdrop for the main plot, and allows the animators to create some absolutely breathtaking scenes all around the globe. This film is actually an elaborate espionage film. We get to meet some new characters with high-tech, secret spy gadgetry like Finn McMissile (Michael Caine), a seasoned professional with more weapons in his hull than Dick Chaney's house. We also meet Holley Shiftwell (Emily Mortimer), the new recruit from the tech division with gadgets advanced enough that she should be more informed and efficient than she is.

Basically the story involves a threat on the world's energy supply by a legion of lemons. It's kingpin is unknown, but his right-hand man is a German with a monocle, so you know that the kingpin must really be evil if he is going to out-cliche Professor Z. Mater, through a serious mistaken identity mishap, is thought by Holley and Finn to be a undercover American agent, and the three of them set out to find the kingpin, and thwart his plans before he destroys all of the cars racing in the World Grand Prix. Professor Z has discovered that when an EMP is applied to Allinol it combusts. Allinol, being the sponsor of the races, is inside all of the racecars, and there you see the problem. By proving alternative fuels unsafe the Professor, his boss, and their band of junky cars can secure their wealth and power, as they own the largest oil reserve in the world.

I really liked this story, although I don't think that half of the kids in the audience understood it--probably much less than half. Pixar did not think this through as well as they should have. They distance themselves from their younger audience by making the plot too thick, but also turn off their adult audience by making Mater, a completely insufferable character in large doses, the star of the show. This will definitely be a blemish on the otherwise beautiful face of Pixar, as they have finally created something that cannot be universally connected to which is what they are known for.

The movie really was lovely to behold. The color pallet was exquisite, and the action sequences were superb. This, however, really could not win me over when I was frustrated by the incompetency of all of the characters... all of them. Secret agents should not be as dumb as they were in this film. Maybe their big secret is that none of them really are capable of anything--after all, guess who saves the day?

2/4