REVIEW: Cars 3

Courtesy of Disney

The Cars franchise has always been the odd, redneck uncle of the Pixar family. While most of the studio’s other films seem (on the surface, at least) to begin from an unconventional idea (rat wants to be a chef, superhero has a midlife crisis, personified emotions), the Cars flicks feel the most cynical – designed to sell merchandise instead of putting story and characters first.

Perhaps that’s why critics have been far less kind to them than the rest of Pixar’s output. They’re not terrible by any stretch of the imagination (especially compared to most of DreamWorks’ output), but I’m not dying to re-watch them either.

As such, I wasn’t exactly bouncing with excitement as my daughter and I walked into an advanced screening of Cars 3. However, I’m happy to report that, whether because of low expectations or because the filmmakers actually have something to say this time around, the latest installment turns out to be the best.

The plot is far from original – it’s a combination of Rocky III and Creed – but at least the three credited screenwriters (Kiel Murray, Bob Peterson and Mike Rich) gained inspiration from solid, entertaining sources. Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) is no longer the cocky, untouchable rookie from the first movie. Now he’s the elder statesman in a sport that’s rapidly changing thanks to technological advancement.

After a horrific accident, Lightning must decide if he wants to train harder than ever to defeat arrogant young racers like Jackson Storm (Armie Hammer) or retire before he ruins his reputation. Helping him along the way are his friends from Radiator Springs (returning actors like Bonnie Hunt, Larry the Cable Guy and Tony Shalhoub), the memory of his mentor Doc Hudson (the late Paul Newman, thanks to unused vocal recordings from the first movie) and Cruz Ramirez (Cristela Alonzo), a new, enthusiastic trainer with the heart of a racer.

Much like Pixar did with the final Toy Story installment, there’s a sense of bringing the story full-circle with Cars 3. Gone are unnecessary tangents (like Cars 2 shoving Lightning to the side so Mater can become a superspy) or a desire to create new characters simply to sell more toys. Don’t get me wrong, Cruz Ramirez is going to move a ton of merchandise. But it’s because she’s an awesome character with a compelling story who also helps Lightning become a better version of himself.

In fact, Cruz is the biggest reason Cars 3 succeeds as well as it does. Alonzo’s voice work is fantastic and her chemistry with Wilson (back in fine form after not getting much to do last time around) is endearing. I’m not sure if they recorded together or not, but they’re a blast.

Pixar also continues to astound with its revolutionary animation techniques. We’ve come a long way since the original Toy Story back in 1995. Although the vehicles maintain their cartoonish look (to avoid the disconcerting uncanny valley effect found in movies like The Polar Express) the environments around them are practically photorealistic. There’s a scene where Lightning and Cruz train at Doc Hudson’s old track that literally made my jaw drop. Kudos to director Brian Fee and his massive team of animators for their stunning work.

While Cars 3 isn’t going to be mentioned in conversations about Pixar’s all-timers, it’s still much better than anyone could’ve expected. There’s a bittersweet sense of finality to the proceedings, so here’s hoping this is the last installment so the series will finish strong.

Cars 3 is rated G.

Grade: B+