Pixar has made many great animated films over the years. And Cars, sadly, is not one of them. It's one of those movies that I deem overrated. Even when I first saw it when I was like, 8 or 9, I thought it was pretty bad. So obviously, when I went back to rewatch it, I thought it was EVEN WORSE. But why? Why is it so bad?
(The spoilers are coming; skip to the end paragraph for a summary and final verdict)
Okay, I'll provide a small synopsis. Lightning McQueen is a famous hotshot car racer who has it all. And I literally mean he's a 'car racer'. I mean he's a car that races. Anyways, he ties in a race for the Piston Cup with two other competitors, and has to be driven (he's a car that's being driven. Like wut.) to the tiebreaker match. Unfortunately, his driver falls asleep on the road and Lightning rolls off the back of the car. He ends up in an area full of society's outcasts and people who don't even know who he is, and works to get himself back to the races. He soon develops second opinions, however, and grows attached to all of the... Interesting friends he meets there.
The whole thing is going wrong from the start. What kind of concept is this? I mean, Finding Nemo was about something that was actually supposed to be living. CARS DON'T LIVE. Okay, Toy Story is about toys. But they're mostly humanoid or animal-like, and they each have their own distinct personality (I'll get to that stuff in a bit). I get there are many people out there who love cars. Collecting cars, driving cars, whatever. But I don't think there's anyone who'd make a whole movie where the only things there are are cars. That is what would be defined as 'an unhealthy obsession'.
Concept aside, the plot is weak, and, more noticeably, overused. Think about it. Some super famous guy, due to some sort of event, ends up with the lower members of society and/or in a really unfortunate position, and has to build himself back up again. This story has been used, at least partially, by at least twenty movies (ahem Gladiator ahem). It's even been used backwards in some occasions (ahem Hercules ahem). It's old, and it's executed terribly. Okay, maybe that ending race bit where he saves that other car was okay. It actually made me kind of acknowledge his development through the story. However, it isn't enough to save the film.
All the characters aside from Lightning and Doc are blander than cardboard, and even then, they're kinda boring. Lightning McQueen is that typical arrogant hotshot that changes (not that much) by the end of the film. Sally is that girl with no personality whom the protagonist falls in love with. Doc Hudson is that cynical guy that hates everyone. Mater is that stereotypically annoying Southern sidekick that acts like he was dropped on his head (in this case, hood). And then all of the background characters have small (stupid) jokes here and there, but have little to no personality. Like, I know nothing about that yellow car with the Italian accent. Or that police car. Or that designer car with those elevating wheels. They're all so forgettable.
Not all about this film is nightmarishly lackluster. The animation is actually pretty good. The characters are all well drawn. They have that cute cartoonish realism that makes them visually appealing. The views of the rocky, mountainous landscape and the flat, sandy desert is quite breathtaking. The casting was actually kind of fitting, and the voice acting was actually borderline good. Except for Mater. God, I hate that voice.
In conclusion, this movie is pretty bad, especially for Pixar's high standards. The plot is weak and overused, the characters are bland, and the humor isn't even that clever. The movie itself lacks that magic that Pixar always has. However, the animation and voice acting is pretty good, but it isn't enough to save this movie from sinking into the pit. Maybe kids will like it, but I certainly don't.
FINAL VERDICT:
3/10
P.S. Leave comments for suggestions on what I should review next!
